Slightly Soiled - Greatly Reduced!
Two young believers were walking along a street in the Whitechapel district of London, a section where old and used clothing is sold. "What a fitting illustration all this makes!" as one of them pointed to a suit of clothes hanging on a rank by the window. A sign on it read: SLIGHTLY SOILED - GREATLY REDUCED IN PRICE. "That's it exactly," she continued. "We get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a worldly book, or allowing ourselves a little indulgence in dishonest or lustful thoughts; and when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Our purity, our strength is gone. We are just part and parcel of the general shopworn stock of the world."
Indeed, continual slight deviations from the path of righteousness may greatly reduce our usefulness to God and to our fellowman. In fact, these little secret sins can weaken our character so much that when we face a moral crisis, we cannot stand the test. As a result, we go down in spiritual defeat because we have been careless about little sins.
What's the remedy for little sins? It's the same for big sins. The Scriptures exhort us, "Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). Someone has well said, the thought is father to the deed. In other words, before there is an action, there is a thought. It's our thought-life that drives our actions. Sinful behavior and righteous behavior stems from our thought-life. Growing stronger in the faith requires a constant "renewing" of my mind, and a watchfulness regarding my thought-life.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tell us, "For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ! That sounds like a lot of work. It is! If any thought is not in accordance with the Word and Will of God, take note of it, and replace it. Replace the worldly thoughts with the thoughts of God. Replace the sinful thoughts with the Word of God. Saturate your mind and spirit with the Scriptures. Meditate day and night on the truths of the Bible. Memorize key Bible verses. The Spirit teaches us that the Word is at work in those who believe (1 Thess. 2:13). Day by day the Spirit renews our thinking as we fill our minds with the the living Word of God.
Speaking about the Bible, Evangelist D.L. Moody would say, "This book will keep you from sin; or sin will keep you from this book!" Brothers and Sisters in Christ, don't allow little sins to weaken your effectiveness for the Kingdom. Daily reading of Scripture and prayer is as vital for Christian growth as daily nourishment is to physical growth. Press hard after the things of the Kingdom, renew your mind daily, and you need never worry about being labeled, "Slightly Soiled - Greatly Reduced."
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!