I am distracted by clutter but I can’t seem to part with enough at one time to keep my spaces otherwise. There are sentimental attachments here and unfinished projects there. I mean to come right back to this but four other things impede my progress. It is truly as I recall hearing Dr. James Dobson say once upon a time- the more you acquire, the more your stuff owns you rather than the other way around. Things take time to maintain, even if they’re only collecting dust. Even more illusive at times is the weight of spiritual baggage, or sin that clings so closely, entangling and tripping us up. (Hebrews 12:1)
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.
Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:21-32 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.4.21-32.NLT
Many of Paul’s letters include a laundry list of things we must leave behind as new creations in Christ. There are the glaringly obvious things alongside things like gossip, boastfulness, and disobedience to parents. There is no sliding scale as far as sin goes. All have missed the mark, which is the perfection of Christ alone, and are thus deserving of God’s judgement. (Romans 3:23, 6:23) Having received forgiveness by the grace of God, we must continually work out our salvation, or put another way, allow the Source of our salvation to have His way in us. Are there habits, inherited mannerisms, or ways of responding that hail from my life before Christ, things that need to be systematically purged so that I do not become a stumbling block in someone’s way to Jesus?
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Philippians 2:12-16 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/php.2.16.ESV
Jesus was harshly critical of the religious leaders of his day for holding out a plumb line from the pinnacle of towers they had erected that resembled the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This freestanding bell tower of marble and stone is part of the Cathedral of Pisa in Italy. Its nearly four-degree lean is a result of an unstable foundation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa) Jesus often told stories, or parables, implicating the religious elite, but we must also hear Him for ourselves or we too may risk His rebuke as unto the churches in the Revelation.
““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.7.24-27.ESV
““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!
You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 23:25-26, 28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.23.28.NLT
The Bible is one story and from beginning to end reveals God in all His fullness, at least as much as the human spirit under the influence of God’s Holy Spirit is capable of comprehending in this lifetime. Living this side of the cross does not mean we can dismiss the Old Testament and its teachings. Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17) His earthly life fleshed out a picture of eternal God before a watching world and our lives are intended to do the same by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
No one on earth has done more than God did for you and me in laying aside His divinity and putting on human flesh so that we could know Him. You will never lay aside anything that will outweigh the value of a soul to Christ. Until every other desire bows to Jesus, until I can deny myself completely, I cannot follow Him unencumbered. Every last thing I hold onto becomes dregs in the cup that He wants to fill with Himself.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.9.23.ESV
Paul wrote similarly to young Timothy.
“Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear.
For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.”
1 Timothy 1:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.1.19.NLT
“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:4-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.4-8.NLT
“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people.
I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.
Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel!
Why should you die?
“Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.
When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins.
And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right.
Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right.
O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’
But I judge each of you according to your deeds.””
Ezekiel 33:11-14, 17, 20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ezk.33.11-20.NLT
“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.57.NLT
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
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 and become one with him.
I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”
Philippians 3:7-9, 12-14, 18-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.3.7-21.NLT
“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted.
They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.
These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.
In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment.
Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”
Jude 1:17-25 NLT
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