A Day without Deodorant

Have you ever had one of those days when everything is out of sync? The alarm didn’t go off at the appointed time, the adrenaline pumps through your veins and in your hurry things get out of order. Your routine is all messed up. On those days, the possibility of forgetting something is very likely. Maybe you forget to brush your teeth – not a problem, use a breath mint! Maybe you forget to put on all your make up or shave – not a problem, pinch your cheeks for color and unshaven faces are the new “GQ”. Well, I forgot my deodorant! The realization came to me just as I was getting into the car. Now I have to decide, is it worth the risk? I can be careful of proximity to people, never get too close. I can even make sure I stay calm and collected but as a choir director, I can’t avoid raising my arms! Of course, that would be the day I dressed in clothes that would have to be completely removed to correct the error but a day without deodorant is like a day not fully clothed. What to do??? 

As I was sitting there contemplating my options, the scripture came to mind about the man who looks in the mirror and then walks away forgetting what he looks like. It somewhat implies a lack of caring about his appearance. James 1:22-24 NIV “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

Listening to the Word and God’s instruction alone is insufficient to being fully “clothed”. You have to do what it says, apply the Word to your identity, actions and thinking. How many times have I told a half-truth and left it uncorrected? When was the last time I saw the sting of my words in someone’s eyes and failed to apologize? How often have I resisted an impulse or ignored what I was sure was God leading me to say or do something for someone? How many times have I believed an untruth of who I am in Christ or an accusation from the enemy of my soul rest uncorrected in my spirit? Are these not “listening to the word but not doing it?” The deceit comes when we think knowing or thinking we know what the Bible says is all it takes to count for righteousness (right doing). 

James 1:16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” 

I wish I could say I went back in the house and added deodorant to my “clothing” that day but I honestly don’t remember. I do remember that feeling of inadequacy and doubt that follows you around when you know things aren’t completely right. We have a God-designed purpose, “a plan for good and not disaster, to give us a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. To allow anything to stand in the way of our doing or believing or agreeing with what the Word says about us is forgetting who we are IN CHRIST, his prized possession, with or without deodorant!