Philippians 3:15-19
So let’s keep focused on that
goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have
something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will
clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right
track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of
those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There
are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying
to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times;
sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They
hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who
live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all
they can think of is their appetites.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
It
started simply enough…I opened a drawer in the kitchen one morning,
rummaged for what I was needing, and ended up taking everything out of
the drawer and reorganizing it. Soon, I had moved on to the next
drawer…and the next…and a couple of hours later, every drawer in the
kitchen had been cleaned and organized. I felt like a new woman! That
was early January. I was so inspired and motivated by my newly
organized kitchen drawers that I moved on to other drawers and closets.
I am not finished, but I am just a closet and a couple of
drawers away from having reorganized my entire house. It’s not
perfect…by a long stretch. And I bet I could go back through and weed
out even more unnecessary “stuff” and make things look a whole lot
better. But I am very much a “work in progress” – even in the areas of
closets and drawers!
I’ll admit…more than once, I got sidetracked
– and discouraged. After all, what difference does it make if there is
a mess behind the cabinet doors? Who cares what’s in the drawers...
and is it really worth my time and energy to finish this project? I
only had to think of the time I’ve wasted looking for a particular
fastener or thread spool in my sewing cabinet to realize that the days I
spent organizing, cleaning and alphabetizing these items will make my
future sewing projects – and other activities - go so much smoother.
And I will be able to accomplish a lot more with less stress!
The old adage that anything worth doing is worth doing right is
true…and nowhere more than in our Spiritual life. If we are going to
do this “Disciple of Christ thing”…if we are going to walk with Jesus,
follow His teachings, share His Good News, and bask in His
blessings…doesn’t it make sense to stay on course and do the hard work?
Jesus does not offer us short-cuts to full-blown
discipleship…and with good reason – He doesn’t take them, either! Read
the New Testament and study His 30+ years on this earth. Read Paul’s
letters and see how Jesus left a legacy of ministry with His
disciples…to be carried on through the generations – even to us and
beyond. There is very little that is easy and simple, once you open
your heart and invite Jesus to dwell there and guide your every breath.
But oh, it’s so worth the effort. The joy and blessings you feel in
opening your Spiritual “closet and drawers” and finding peace and
organization… purpose and overflow…are so worth any struggle and
challenge.
Will everything stay neat and orderly? Probably not?
Will you have to reorganize a “drawer or closet” from time to time –
both spiritually and physically? Most likely. Will it be worth the
effort? Most definitely!
Won’t you make this the day that you
start to get organized…in your Spiritual fellowship with Jesus AND maybe
your physical life? Will this be the day that you open your heart and
see Christ in charge instead of chaos? Are you ready to get busy
“cleaning” and get back on the right path? Don’t you think you should
be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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