Purify Your Mind Series (Part 1) by Joe KirbySample

Spiritual Toothpaste

Christians are like tubes of spiritual toothpaste—pressure brings out what’s really on the inside! Or, if you prefer this illustration, we are all like tea bags—when we’re dropped in hot water, it brings out our true colors. We’ve all dropped a stale tea bag in hot water, only to see there wasn’t much goodness left; it brewed, but nothing really came out. So when we are under strain due to pressure or trials, let’s not be seen as counterfeit Christians. The believer who endures patiently and depends upon the Lord through the difficulty is promised to receive the crown of life. What a motivation that should be to drive us to discipline ourselves, to be crowned by the Lord Himself in glory!

Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without discipline, nor was any worthwhile achievement maintained without discipline. Many people have ruined their lives by growing slack. Imagine if William Wilberforce had given up when he sought to abolish slavery in 1807. Despite great resistance, by continual perseverance over twenty-six years, Wilberforce eventually saw slavery abolished in 1833. Spurgeon said, “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”

I don’t know what trial you’re going through right now, but I do know in my own life how many times I turned to sin for comfort, and it only made matters worse. Let Christ be your rod and staff as you suffer, for the storms of life only make the tree grow stronger.