Apr 9, 2020

Treasure Chest or Junk Drawer?

Today's Jewel:

Holiness

Treasure Map Coordinates:

Deuteronomy 13:1-11

Along with so many other businesses, my local gym is temporarily closed. (Thank you, Coronavirus.) In the absence of my gym, I have had to improvise. I have settled for brisk walks around my neighborhood during these days of quarantine.

After my first week of walking, I concluded two things would be true of my neighborhood after COVID-19 runs its course. First, when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy, our lawns and flowerbeds will be stunning photo opportunities for any local nursery.

While the outward appearance of our homes is being well-maintained, it is obvious from the sheer number of trash bags lining the curb that the insides of our homes are also receiving much attention. Drawers are being cleaned, outdated clothes are being removed from closets and cabinets are being cleared of unwanted and unnecessary items. Attics, too, are likely sources of the trash recently piling up along the streets.

At one point in time, the items now bound for the local dump were once deemed valuable. Items once cherished are now easily dispensed.

My observations and conclusions echo a truth I recently read from God’s word.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts God’s laws to the Israelites before they cross into the land God had promised them on oath. In the midst of these laws, God tells his people “You must purge the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 13:5).

If repetition is any indication of importance, purging evil is high on God’s list. This command to “purge the evil” is repeated nine times in the book of Deuteronomy. A variety of sins are linked to this command. Although the sins may differ, the decree remains constant: “Purge the evil.”

Materially, we thoughtlessly and easily collect meaningless knickknacks, assorted devices and other space-fillers for our homes. Spiritually, we are no different. This treasure chest we call the heart is in desperate need of purging.

No doubt our hearts are brimming over with precious jewels like humility, patience and selflessness. Kindness, gratitude and self-control shine brighter with each season. In your own heart, how visible are these jewels? Are these godly jewels buried beneath habits, thought patterns, attitudes and communication methods in need of change?

We must seriously consider the sins we have cherished—the sins to which we have recklessly (and mindlessly) clung—and purge them from our lives. It is important to remember that our sins are not merely moral failures. Each sin is an offense against our holy God. Every sin we commit nailed Jesus to the cross.

With the seriousness of sin before us, there is no other course of action but to purge the evil from our lives.

Years ago, I developed an acronym to help me remember the different areas of my life where sins regularly surface. Technically, my acronym is not a word, but I think we can all relate to STEAMAD. It’s how we feel when a friend betrays us or when injustice prevails—we get steaming mad!

Prayerfully consider the following junk in your own heart. Allow these partial lists to serve as springboards for further soul-searching.

S (Speech)

Obscenities. Perverseness. Abusing God’s Name. Lies. Deceit. Slander. Gossip. Belittling, Insulting words. Grumbling. Sarcasm. Complaining.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

T (Thoughts)

Negative thoughts about others or yourself. Vindictive thoughts. Lust. Self-pity. Fantasies. Brooding. Comparisons.

Unbelief. Judgmental. Impure. Worldly.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

E (Emotions)

Jealousy. Hate. Despair. Disdain. Fear. Anger. Worry. Envy. Anxiety. Hopelessness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

A (Attitudes)

Bitterness. Superiority. Apathy. Complacency. Discontentedness. Proud. Contentious. Unforgiving. Ungrateful. Defiant. Selfish. Self-Righteous. Resigned (quitter). Negative. Unyielding. Rebellious. Arrogant. Resentful. Manipulative/Controlling.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

M (Motives)

Money. Selfish Ambition. Approval. Power. Revenge. Pleasure. Greed. Appearance. Reputation.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).

A (Actions)

Disobedience. Lack of Submission. Laziness. Murder. Gluttony. Insubordination. Theft. Sexual Immorality. Divisiveness. Blaming Others. Drunkenness. Chronically Late. Divination. Religiosity. Substance Abuse. Procrastination. Indebtedness. Prayerlessness.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

D (Desires)

Covetousness. Idolatry (Accomplishment, Hobbies, Entertainment, Academic Excellence, Career, Relationships, Food, Sports, Money, Fame, Self). Worldliness. Materialism.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul

(1 Peter 2:11).

After merely reading through these lists, it is very possible you are feeling greatly overwhelmed by the weight of your sin. The goal is not to make you feel worthless or down on yourself. The goal is to highlight the extent of God’s love for you. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

God never intended for you to carry the guilt of you sin. As the Holy Spirit has brought conviction upon your heart, pause and confess your sins to the Lord. God promises to forgive you (1 John 1:9).

When Jesus died, he died for all of your sins—past, present and future. Then he carried those sins to the grave. When Jesus rose from the dead, he did not carry your sins with him. He left them in the tomb. He fully expected we would leave them there too, covered in his blood.

Accept the forgiveness God offers you today. Willingly discard the junk of your life, allowing the jewels in your heart to shine brightly as you pursue holiness today.

Lord God, I praise you because you are holy. Because you are holy, you can not look upon sin. Frankly, I’ve got a lot of sin filling my heart. I confess all of my sins to you. I am guilty of acting and thinking in ways dishonorable to the name of Jesus. My desires and motivations are often impure. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins—all of them. I choose today to leave them at the foot of the cross, covered by the blood of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

For Reflection

There is a myth floating around Christian circles today. It sounds something like this: “I can’t (or need to) forgive myself.” Why is it unnecessary to forgive ourselves?

STEAMAD covers a lot of ground. Today, focus on just one aspect of life where you don’t look or sound much like Jesus. What is one step you can take today to pursue holiness in that particular area of life?

Bury that Treasure!

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4).

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: The New International Version (NIV)

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