Living Mud-Free

1 Peter 3: 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. 16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. 17 It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. (The Message)

The definition of "clean" varies from person to person and even within ourselves depending on age. To live clean also may mean different things to different people; but Peter says our starting point should be our heart and the attitude we have towards God. No matter what circumstances we may be going through, our hearts should be always praising God. Our lives should reflect that attitude of gratitude towards God and what God has done for us, and if we should be asked why we live the way we do, we should take advantage of any opportunity to give a testimony or witness about our faith. I love this version's verse 16 where Peter says basically, we should live mud-free. "Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick." There were times in this writer's life when I loved all things dirt and mud. Days were spent playing along Tranquitas Creek in Kingsville and I'm thankful for an understanding mom that knew that little boys can and will gete dirty and muddy. And as an adult, clean living allows, as Peter says, for anything to be thrown our way, and even if it's "mud" being thrown about our way of life, it won't stick. I love his line about them "realizing...they're the ones who need a bath." Ours is to push onward towards Christ's leading, not worrying about what may be coming our way, for we will not be punished for doing bad if we lived a life that was good.

Are you living "clean"? If not, Christ Jesus offers the "bath" mentioned above!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Your presence and for guiding our hearts towards how we should live. Our prayer is to live right and clean before You, with no malice nor harm towards anyone, even those who persecute us for being believers. May we be a living witness of a life lived in love before You; we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS I pray God's blessings be upon you all during this Thanksgiving Weekend. May God's calm and peace be with you if you happen to be standing in line awaiting that perfect deal during the madness of this day!