Spring is a time for
spring cleaning. When we start spring cleaning we put things in three piles.
One pile is for trash: things to throw away. These are the things that are
broken or of no use to anyone. The next pile is for yard sale: things to share.
This pile includes things we do not want but could be useful to someone else.
The last pile is for things to keep, at least for another year.
As I thought about
spring cleaning another kind of spiritual cleaning came to mind. I have been
studying Colossians 3. Paul talks about how we need to put off the old person,
with all its bad habits, and put on the new person with all the Godly
characteristics. I thought about all the things that I need to get out of my
life and mentally put them on a “Put Off” list. I then looked at the Godly
Characteristics that I needed to work on and put them on a “Put On” list.
I also need to think
of my spiritual growth the same way I look at spring cleaning? If so, then I need to make three lists.
The first list is
like the trash pile. The trash pile is for things to throw away, such as things
that are broken, or are of no use to anyone. Old habits, such as immorality,
are of no use to anyone. Old attitudes, such as greed and lust, are of no use
to anyone. Old feelings, such as hate, anger, or envy are of no use to anyone.
The list of things I need to “Put Off” goes on. Those are all bad but there are
so many more things we store up that we think are not so bad that we also need
to remove. Bad feelings, bad language, and lies are among the things Paul warns
the church about. Gossip and a critical spirit are also included in some of
Paul’s other letters. The trash pile can get pretty deep if we are not careful.
The second list is
like the keep pile. The Bible is also full of Godly characteristics we need to “Put
On” and add to our lives. The things we need to keep include anything in God’s
Word that renews us in knowing God better. We sometimes need to be reminded
that we are made in His image at creation and we are remade into the image of
His Son, Jesus, at salvation.
The third list is
like the share pile. Paul said, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness faith, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians
5:22-23) I think this is a partial list but you get the idea. Fruit does not
grow to benefit the tree. Fruit grows to spread the tree and benefit all those
around it. The Fruit of the Spirit is God sharing Himself with the world
through us.
Consider God’s Word
like a mirror to reveal your Spiritual life. Take a good look and then look at
your lists again. Is there anything missing? Have you written something God’s
Word doesn’t support? What do you need to throw away, keep, and share?
“Above all, put on
love – the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:14)
Bro. Robin
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