Nature Versus Nurture

Tess is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She has a heart of gold and loves nothing more than being around people.

But there's one thing about Tess that never fails to amaze me. Despite her sweet and tender nature, she's still a terrier through and through. You see, terriers are bred to hunt small animals, and Tess is no exception. When we're out on a walk, and she catches a whiff of a mole in the bushes, it's like a switch flips. She'll dart off into the underbrush, and before I know it, she's got that mole in her mouth, giving it a couple of violent shakes before tossing it back into the bushes.

Let me tell you, it's a scary sight to behold. But Tess is a terrier. Hunting is in her nature. It's who she is. And just like Tess, we Christians have an innate quality that we can't eliminate, no matter how hard we try.

You see, as much as we may try to portray love, kindness, goodness, and the other fruits of the Spirit, the sad fact is that our flesh is still very much alive. It often leads us to do things we don’t want to do and those that don’t align with who we are in Christ.

The key to overcoming our sinful nature is to grow so much into who we long to be in Christ that our flesh has no choice but to submit. We do this by spending more time with Christ and renewing our minds daily in His Word.

Indeed, as Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

This verse is a powerful reminder that our minds are the battleground where we fight to align ourselves with God's will. We all face the struggle to resist the ways of the world and let God’s perspective shape our thoughts and actions. But as believers, we are called to be different. We are called to be transformed by renewing our minds, actively seeking God's perspective, and allowing it to shape our thoughts and actions.

This can be a daily struggle, but it's worth fighting. When we renew our minds with God's word and spend time in prayer, we can begin to see the world through His eyes and live in a way that is pleasing to Him. And as we do, we will find that we can better discern what is truly good, acceptable, and perfect in His eyes.

As I look out my window and see Tess running around the yard, I am reminded that we are all works in progress. Just as Tess is still growing and learning, so are we. We may stumble and make mistakes, but with God's help, we can learn and grow from them. And as we do, we will become more and more like the person God created us to be. So let us not be discouraged by our struggles, but instead, let us be inspired by the promise of transformation. With God's help, we can renew our minds and live in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Because, at the end of the day, we're not just terriers. We're children of God, and He's called us to be more than our flesh. He’s called us to rise to the challenge and become who we were meant to be in Him. Let’s not forget this empowering truth as we navigate our journey of spiritual growth.