Years ago, Mom and Dad took Bev and I to look at a house they were considering for purchase. When we stepped through the front door, our eyes were met by a strange sight. Little trails created a maze that led through piles of old furniture, old newspapers, trinkets, and just plain junk! The stuff was piled 6' high everywhere in the house, tons of it cluttering a home that could have been quite lovely. It was amazing, adding a new definition to the word - save. The lady who lived in the house apparently couldn't discard anything. She loved her stuff. As a result she lived in a garbage dump, literally surrounded by yesterday's trash.
Do you keep a lot of stuff? Mostly I like to clean up, throw away, and keep life lean and clean - except for books! Throwing away a book, even one that I know I'll never read again, is hard for me. Why? Because I really love books. Throwing away yesterday's newspaper brings no angst whatever. Again, primarily that is because I attach no value to it.
In Ephesians Believers are urged to clean up our lives! Paul says - "...everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!" (4:22, The Message) What's the state of your heart house? Are the rooms in it full of junk and clutter? Is the memory room stuffed with yesterday's regrets and old grudges? Is the treasure room filled floor to ceiling with dusty relics of no real value? Are old sins and habits piled high in the living room? Here's the hard question - why are you hanging onto those things? Honestly, could it be that you still love them, that you are unwilling to part with them because just having those old familiar things around comforts you in some strange way? Get rid of it!
Believer, God offers a thorough house cleaning to us! He won't step in and take away the old stuff unless we invite Him to do it. The Bible says, "there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true." (Ephesians 4:23-24, NLT) God, the Holy Spirit, will give us a vision for the future, a glimpse of what we can become in Christ that allows us to let go of the stuff that has defined us in the past. Ah, but it takes real faith to let go of what we know so we can take hold of what is promised, doesn't it?
The stuff we hold onto reveals what we love.
If we hold onto old habits that we know offend God, it reveals that we love them.
If we admit that and stop offering up excuses, we can break their hold over us with the help of the Spirit.
If we treasure yesterday's trophies too much, we will not reach for tomorrow's promise, either.
This Springtime, many households will engage in spring cleaning. With the new season, stuff will be sorted through and cleaned out. Let's not just clean up our houses. How about a thorough clean up in our hearts and minds? Invite God, the Spirit, to lead you through the rooms in your heart house. Let Him remove the clutter and junk that keeps Him from moving in. "Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. ... And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NLT)
By the way, that old house full of junk that Mom and Dad showed us 30 years ago? They bought it and it became a very nice country home, inviting and comfortable, a place of hospitality that has served the family well! Let God transform your life - cleaning out the junk, creating true beauty.
______________
Are you living in an old man's rubble?
Are you listenin' to the father of lies?
If you are then you're headed for trouble;
If you listen too long, you'll eventually die!
Are you puzzled by the way that you're behavin'?
Do you wonder why you do the things you do?
Are you troubled by your lack of resistance;
do you fell that something's got a hold on you?
Well, deep within' you there's a spiritual battle,
there's a voice of the darkness and a voice of the light.
And just by listening you've made a decision,
'Cause the voice you hear is gonna' win the fight
Are you living in an old man's rubble?
Are you listenin' to the father of lies?
If you are then you're headed for trouble;
If you listen too long, you'll eventually die!
But if you're living as a new creation,
If you're listening to the Father of light:
Then you're living in a mighty fortress
and you're gonna' be clothed in power and might!
Old Man's Rubble - Amy Grant, 1977
Do you keep a lot of stuff? Mostly I like to clean up, throw away, and keep life lean and clean - except for books! Throwing away a book, even one that I know I'll never read again, is hard for me. Why? Because I really love books. Throwing away yesterday's newspaper brings no angst whatever. Again, primarily that is because I attach no value to it.
In Ephesians Believers are urged to clean up our lives! Paul says - "...everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!" (4:22, The Message) What's the state of your heart house? Are the rooms in it full of junk and clutter? Is the memory room stuffed with yesterday's regrets and old grudges? Is the treasure room filled floor to ceiling with dusty relics of no real value? Are old sins and habits piled high in the living room? Here's the hard question - why are you hanging onto those things? Honestly, could it be that you still love them, that you are unwilling to part with them because just having those old familiar things around comforts you in some strange way? Get rid of it!
Believer, God offers a thorough house cleaning to us! He won't step in and take away the old stuff unless we invite Him to do it. The Bible says, "there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true." (Ephesians 4:23-24, NLT) God, the Holy Spirit, will give us a vision for the future, a glimpse of what we can become in Christ that allows us to let go of the stuff that has defined us in the past. Ah, but it takes real faith to let go of what we know so we can take hold of what is promised, doesn't it?
The stuff we hold onto reveals what we love.
If we hold onto old habits that we know offend God, it reveals that we love them.
If we admit that and stop offering up excuses, we can break their hold over us with the help of the Spirit.
If we treasure yesterday's trophies too much, we will not reach for tomorrow's promise, either.
This Springtime, many households will engage in spring cleaning. With the new season, stuff will be sorted through and cleaned out. Let's not just clean up our houses. How about a thorough clean up in our hearts and minds? Invite God, the Spirit, to lead you through the rooms in your heart house. Let Him remove the clutter and junk that keeps Him from moving in. "Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. ... And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NLT)
By the way, that old house full of junk that Mom and Dad showed us 30 years ago? They bought it and it became a very nice country home, inviting and comfortable, a place of hospitality that has served the family well! Let God transform your life - cleaning out the junk, creating true beauty.
______________
Are you living in an old man's rubble?
Are you listenin' to the father of lies?
If you are then you're headed for trouble;
If you listen too long, you'll eventually die!
Are you puzzled by the way that you're behavin'?
Do you wonder why you do the things you do?
Are you troubled by your lack of resistance;
do you fell that something's got a hold on you?
Well, deep within' you there's a spiritual battle,
there's a voice of the darkness and a voice of the light.
And just by listening you've made a decision,
'Cause the voice you hear is gonna' win the fight
Are you living in an old man's rubble?
Are you listenin' to the father of lies?
If you are then you're headed for trouble;
If you listen too long, you'll eventually die!
But if you're living as a new creation,
If you're listening to the Father of light:
Then you're living in a mighty fortress
and you're gonna' be clothed in power and might!
Old Man's Rubble - Amy Grant, 1977
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