Time To Clear Out The Clutter

03 Feb Time To Clear Out The Clutter

Read Acts 16:11-15
Thought for the Day: What in my life is getting in the way of Jesus?

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to help a friend get ready for the arrival of his first child. Not yet having kids of my own, I was excited to help him paint and install his new furniture. But, when I arrived at his house, I was surprised. He hadn’t invited me to paint or build Ikea furniture. Instead, his daughter’s future nursery was filled with boxes upon boxes. He had simply asked me there to help him clear the space. So, we got to work. At the end of the day, the room was clear and he was ready to begin setting up his daughter’s nursery.

One of the great heroes of the Early Church was a woman named Lydia. In an act of courageous faith, she put her trust in Jesus and this led to her entire household following her example. But what is most amazing is that Lydia lived her life differently. She loved God and sought to live a faithful life, knowing that she did not always have all the right answers. Instead, when the Apostle Paul came to town, she was willing to listen. She did not assume that all of her life experiences up until that point were sufficient. She didn’t say, “I’m all set.” Instead, “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” Lydia was willing to let God clear out the junk in her life and do something new!

It’s important to learn the lesson of Lydia. How often do we live with closed hearts, convinced that we know best? How often do we ignore the urging of the Holy Spirit and instead live for ourselves? How often do we keep the Bible closed and turn to anything and everything else for inspiration? Put simply: God wants us to open our hearts and then keep the space open for Jesus. Too much of life creates extra clutter.

In Christ,
Pastor David (and Stan)