Clear the Clutter & Make Space

 

This morning in our devotional time the words of a worship song were used. They said 'make space..'.  I was struck with these words as I looked at the clutter around me.  I have been playing at painting with water colours....with very mixed results!  (This pic is not one of them!)

In doing this I have surrounded myself, (in my lounge room I have to confess), with a lot of painting paraphernalia so that it is near to hand and reminds me to 'just do it'.  Practice makes perfect my mother used to say.  I was never very good at practising! This clutter is okay until I'm expecting visitors, then I quickly clear it away, cover it up and make space for my guests.  It's not all just to look good, it's to literally make space as half of one couch is, (right now), littered with paintboxes, paint charts and visual journals. 

The clutter that surrounds us can be so varied.  It can be busyness, pressure of work, demands of family, or physical clutter because "I just might need that one day".  The 'clutter'  may be in our lives out of a need to be liked, to please others, to look good or just to 'have stuff'.  There sometimes comes a time when we have to look objectively at the 'stuff' and ask "Is this hindering me or is it helping me?" However, there is other clutter that really hinders us that I want to address.

My thoughts, as I listened to this song about making space for Jesus, went to the Apostle Peter's words where he says "Get rid of all evil behaviour. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy and all unkind speech." 1 Peter 2:1 This is the kind of clutter is a real blockage to knowing the peace,  and the presence of God. 

Peter was writing to new believers who had been born again into the family of God and who now have a 'priceless inheritance which is kept in heaven for us'.  For this reason they were to get rid of all the corrupt behaviour from their old life. The Apostle Paul spoke similarly to the Colossians of putting off the old life and putting on  'the new you' and become more like your Creator.

If we are going to walk with Jesus Christ, we must clear the clutter in our lives which does not reflect him. We have to make space for him in our lives.  Space for reading the Bible, for fellowshipping with others, for worshipping together and being instructed and encouraged, and for praying - alone, and together.

Is there emotional, or physical clutter in your life which needs to be cleared to make space for Jesus? It will cost you something, maybe a lot, but it will be worth it.  The Apostle Paul wrote this, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ." Philippians 3:8. May God make us hungry for that infinite value of knowing Jesus.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the priceless gift of new life in Christ.  Show me the clutter in my life that needs to go so that I can make space for you.  Help me to see the great value in knowing you and loving you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength." Amen

More Than A Crutch

Living in a retirement village I see many people on mobility scooters, pushing walking frames, using walking sticks and even using crutches post surgery....or after a fall.  These things are a reality of ageing, but very useful for keeping one up and walking safely.

Just this week I was chatting with an older man about the issue of personal faith.  His wife is a believer, but he is not, because, he said, "No matter how hard I try I cannot believe. I don't understand the Bible" He then went on to say, "I know everyone needs a crutch.....".  As I have thought on this comment, (it's certainly not the first time I've heard it), I'm challenged to say that faith in a creator God is certainly more than a crutch.  It is a whole, solid foundation for life.

Jesus told a parable about 2 men who each built themselves a house.  One chose the beach with sand as it's foundation, while another went to much more trouble, effort, and probably cost, and built his house upon a rock.  All was fine while the weather was good, but when the storm came the house on the rock was the one that survived.

For each of us life comes with storms, some that threaten our foundations leaving us with questions. Often these take the form of 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why me?', or  'Why them?' or 'God what are you doing?'  That is normal.  I remember the lovely man of faith, Rev Charles Stanley telling the story of a  fall he took in later life which necessitated a time in hospital.  His question as he lay on the floor was, "God what are you up to in this situation?'  During his time in hospital he was able to share his faith in Jesus Christ and bring hope to others.  

Charles Stanley's faith was not a crutch, it was a foundation that could not be shaken. He knew he was in God's hands. He believed God's word which says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good....." Romans 8:28.  The Apostle Paul who wrote those words also wrote this further on...."Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?........I am persuaded that NOTHING shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus". 

My friend's other problem was that he couldn't understand the Bible.  Perhaps that's your problem too. That is because there's a missing dimension in your life.  With a confession of faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son, comes the gift of the Holy Spirit who is the one who leads us into all truth."  He makes sense of God's word to us as we take time to study it.  It doesn't mean we won't still have questions.

I have studied the Bible with others for many years and there are still some things I don't understand.  However I know, and I believe in my heart that God's word is His truth and I have embraced it to become my truth.  It is the foundation of my life.  It doesn't feel anything like a crutch, it is a rock, a firm foundation, a comfort in times of questioning.  

It also brings a confidence and great peace, knowing that God IS in control in this floundering and crazy world, and that His purposes WILL be fulfilled.  For the followers of Christ, that is a foundation of hope in the perfect new world to come, when this one has run its awful course.

PRAYER: Father God, help me to have more than crutch.  May my foundation be faith in you and your Son, Jesus Christ and the truth of your word. Amen