I’ve tend to measure out my status and life on the things I have or the type of job I have. Some of us work hard, and buy what we need. Others work hard and buy the next best thing. It is a constant battle and I myself have fallen in to the trap of consumerism. I’m not saying that having nice things is wrong, believe me I enjoy perks of working hard myself. What starts to happen is that we tend to identify our life with the things of this world. We are not known by are personalizes anymore but rather how much stuff we have. YIKES!
I have had the privilege to live in a room that I rented from my sweet friend Shannon for the past four years. I set up, home, life, routine in this space, and in January I started the process of packing my “stuff” I have collected over the years. I’ve had to really ask myself if this “stuff” was really important, and if not I had to “LET IT GO”!
At first it was hard, to let go of thing I have worked hard to earn and bought or was given over the years. Every month I would make my pile smaller and smaller. Then just before training camp, I had a yard sale, selling my bed and dressers, started living on just my mattress. I kept thinking it’s still a lot compared to people across the world. The struggle is to have control of the things I have or to fully trusting in God’s plan for my life no matter the amount of “stuff” I might have along the way. The only thing I need is Jesus.
It takes a level of confidence in Christ to fully abandon, the comforts of life. I think of Moses, he spent time living in a desert, then the Lord, calls him go and free the people of Israel. Now, Moses made a life for himself in the new land, away from Egypt. He became a shepherd and he even married. The moment God started to call Moses back to Egypt to save his people, Moses came up with a lot of excuse that made him “unqualified” for the job. Read Exodus 1-4.
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelite’s out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have send you: When you have the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:11-12
I will be with you, is all that God said to me as I said YES to this new adventure with him. I am longer going to keep myself tamed, living a nine to five life style. Rather I’m stepping into the “Untamed” world that God has planned for me. Yes, it’s going to be hard, but I have Jesus. Yes, its means I will struggle, but I have Jesus. Yes it can be dangerous, but I have Jesus. He is the rock of my life, my protector.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discourage, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
As I am just about to leave all behind me and go forward on this journey I am reminded of the same request made by Jesus to the disciples in Matthew 10
“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts- no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” Matthew 10:7-10
HERE I GO! Nothing but a bit of things and a LOT of JESUS!
