Yuck

The impure spirit (1:26) 

My introduction to a muddy walk was near the Norfolk village of Blakeney. If you diverge from the marked paths and set out across the estuary, you quickly find yourself knee deep in a clammy black slime generously called mud. Soon on our walk anyone who attempted to remain clean was vigorously baptised until all were covered from head to foot. We had a wonderful time. In nature nothing is pure, nor is purity necessarily something to be desired. The minerals in fresh water give it taste. The impurities in soil provide the essential ingredients in healthy food. Mud is good but can look revolting. 

Here impure does not mean adulterated, revolting, 'yucky' but to be turned away from God, outside his people. Why then do we assume God backs up our instinctive disgust at others' lives? We can so easily get caught up in judging their choices when the real problem is hardness in our hearts. It is not our degree of dirtyness that determines our relationship with God but our willingness to let him clean us up. 



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