Today I’m participating in "Monday Manna," hosted by Joanne Sher at An Open Book. Visit her blog for links to more discussion on 1 John 2:15.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
I have a bag that I pack for swimming lessons. Since the kids are starving after they get out of the pool, I load one center compartment with drinks and snacks. Another compartment carries my diaper changing kit. The zippered pocket secures items that I don’t want to fall out: wallet, cell phone, swim tickets for lessons. Outside pockets store easy-access items: keys, sunglasses, sunscreen. But other items sink into corners of the bag: toy cars, paper towels, discarded ads from the mailbox, empty snack wrappers.
Sometimes my bag is so full of non-essential items that I barely have room for towels and swimsuits.
If I’m not careful, I’ll fill my heart with the desires of the world: possessions in one pocket, relationships in another, my to-do list stuffed around the outside. Pile in the empty wrappers of chatter and worry and soon I realize that I’m filled with the world--not the Word. I’ve made no room for the love of the Father.
I cleaned out my swim bag and discarded all the garbage. Now it’s packed with our main goal in mind--swimming. First in--towels, clothes, and goggles. They fill the bag, but since I’ve thrown out the garbage, there’s plenty of room left over for the things a mom needs to carry.
When I ask God to clean out my heart and throw out the garbage--the desires of the world--and put Him in first, I find that He fills my heart. But there’s also room for family and fellowship, a purposeful life and peace.
Shalom, y’all.
1 comment:
Oh yes! I LOVE this analogy, Karen! Most of the time when I "can't" get God's work done it's because I've let that garbage work its way in. Thanks for participating.
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