“Yesterday I met some new neighbors,” Stan commented one morning. “They just moved into one of the smaller homes in the neighborhood. They downsized.”
“Did they move from far away?”
“No, they had been living over in Johnsonville for several years. Their children have all grown and moved out on their own. It seems they had a big house that they no longer needed so they decided to move to a smaller one.”
“Moving can always be such a hassle,” I replied. “It’s a lot of work.”
“That’s one of the things my neighbor and I talked about,” Stan replied. “Moving into a smaller house required them to make some tough decisions about what and what not to keep for the new home.”
“While we were talking,” Stan continued, “my new neighbor made the point that he viewed the whole process of downsizing to be just like how he saw his faith walk.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“Getting rid of the stuff for which there’s no room. It’s kind of like what the apostle Paul wrote about to me and to the church in Rome.”
“He wrote about downsizing?” I asked.
“He sure did,” Stan replied. “He didn’t use that word, but I think that’s what he was focusing on when he was writing about how I am to behave as a Christian. He put it in terms of not making any ‘provision’ in my life for certain things.”
“So,” I replied, “it’s like when you move into the ‘house’ Jesus has for you, there should be no room for certain things you may have had where you lived before. Is that it?”
“Exactly, my friend,” Stan said. “Get rid of the stuff for which there is to be no room.”
____________________________
Bible verses to consider:
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:13-14.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:16-17.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of your presence in me through the Holy Spirit so I will know how it is you intend for me to live this life. I confess that too often I don’t listen to His voice leading me to downsize by getting rid of the things that interfere with and are to have no place in my life if I am to be yours. Please help me to follow your lead in making no provision for anything that is contrary to the life you intend for me as a disciple of Jesus. I know you will lead. Please help me follow. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you believe that the sort of “downsizing” mentioned in this reading is important? Why or why not? Are there things in your life that are interfering with your relationship with God, things that you know need to be eliminated? If so, do you know how to get rid of them and make no provision for them? Can you do it on your own, or do you need help? If you need help, where can that help be found? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 