Calluses
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly
nature…
Colossians 3:5
“My chords don’t sound anything like yours,” Eric said,
shaking his fingers, trying to restore feeling to them.
“I’ve been playing for twenty-seven years,” Lew said. “My fingertips
are well-calloused.” Holding his hand so Eric could see the fingertips, he explained,
“When I press the strings against the
neck it’s like using the rounded end of a ball-peen hammer.” He grinned, “Right
now yours are more like putty. Your fingers will toughen up and the chords will
sound crisp. Give it time. It’ll come. I promise.”
Eric looked at his fingertips, “I’m thinking mine are more
like hamburger than putty!”
Lew laughed, remembering how his fingers had cracked and
bled when he first learned to play. “Looks familiar,” he admitted. “I soaked
mine in salt water for a few minutes each day. You should too. It stings a
might, but it keeps infection from setting in and toughens the skin….helps
build those calluses.” As an afterthought he added, “Whatever you do don’t use
lotion; it softens your fingertips.”
†
This is the perfect example of how our hearts become
hardened to sin. Like learning to play the guitar, the things we practice
create calluses. These calluses allow us to become insensitive to any spiritual
or emotional discomfort involved. The more we do them, the thicker the calluses
become. Eventually, there is little to no sensation whatsoever.
Today’s text says that we must get rid of the sinful things
that rule our lives. To do that we must remove the callousness that helps
propagate sin.
Reading God’s word is the equivalent to applying lotion to
our hearts. Each time we apply the word it removes a little more of the callus.
Verse 2 says, “Set your minds on things above.” When we commit God’s word to
our heart it removes any callousness we have toward God, and builds calluses
between us and Satan.
And as uncomplicated as it sounds: If you’re living in sin,
stop it! God is offering you a choice right now. My prayer is that you will put
to death anything that stands between you and God. Sometimes it can take
awhile. Give it time. It’ll come. God
promises!
Prayer
“Scrub away the hard
spots of my heart, Lord. Make it soft so Your word can penetrate with
life-changing results. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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