A sheep and a pig will react differently in a mudhole. A sheep that falls into the mud will not be happy there. He will struggle and cry until he gets out.

On the other hand, a pig goes around looking for a mudhole. When he finds it, he slides in with a grunt of satisfaction. In fact, he will squeal if an attempt is made to pull him out.

By nature, and without the convicting work of God's Spirit, a sinner is like a pig—he seeks evil and temptation and has no desire to be delivered from sin. The follower of Christ, however, is compared in the Bible to a sheep. He should never be found in the mud of sin.

It is a sad fact that many of Christ's sheep do fall into sin, but no born-again Christian will ever be comfortable in such a place. They will cry for forgiveness and cleansing. In Psalm 32, King David said, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long" (v.3). He found, though, that the Lord was ready to provide forgiveness and relief when he confessed his sin to Him (v.5). The same is true for us.

Have you yielded to temptation? Do you ever doubt your salvation? Then return to Him and He will have mercy—and He will "abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:7).  — M.R. De Haan