June 2018 Pastor’s Article

Spring Cleaning

Well, I guess it really is Spring in spite of the unseasonably cool weather we had at the beginning.  Spring can put us in the mood to clean up the yard, the house, and begin getting rid of some of the stuff we have collected that we never use (The Kid’s Closet Rummage Sale can really help with that).

I regularly need to go through papers and magazines to get rid of the ones I no longer need or are outdated.  I have even been going through and deleting old emails that I either never read or just neglected to delete at the time.

Going through boxes and clutter in the attic and basement helps us to get rid of the stuff that we either haven’t used in a long time or that needs to be replaced with something better.  But not everything that is old needs to be tossed. For example, I received my grandparents’ all-purpose electric timer around 1980 when they moved into the UM Franklin Home. They had it at least 20 years before giving it to us and we have used it many times every year since to turn a light in the house on and off while we were away.  It is something that I need and have never needed to replace it.

In the same way, Christians need to take regular inventory of their lives and how they are living out God’s purpose.  We may find some characteristics or habits in our lives that we need to get rid of as they are either sinful or wasteful.  I have known people who hold on to pride, dissent, disappointment, and hurt. They would rather remain mad at the other person or God than to offer forgiveness and reconciliation.  

Clearing out the junk in our lives creates new space which we hopefully will fill with those things God desires for us.  A good place to start is with the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26). All of us can use more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our lives.

As you prayerfully engage in “Spring cleaning” your character and lifestyle, be looking for those aspects of your life that need to be replaced.  But also be aware of those aspects that still work well; aspects of your character that have been around awhile but still serve you well and glorify God.  Continue to nurture and strengthen those things.

In all things seek to be led and guided by the Spirit as you strive to be conformed to the image of Christ.