Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14 ESV
The hero in our home is whoever takes the trash out! Trash cans that are overflowing, smelly, and oozing all kinds of yucky seepage are toxic to our senses, imaginations, and emotions. What’s in your trash can? Coffee grounds, banana peels, food packaging, an unmatched sock, hair from your hairbrush, or the shower drain?
We throw away that which we consider rubbish, of no use, unnecessary, unwanted, spoiling, turning rotten, finished with, of no value. We don’t want those items in our home. If the garbage doesn’t leave our home, the putridness grows, attracting unwanted insects or birthing them.
In many communities, professionals pick up our trash transporting it from our bins to a designated landfill. Once trash gets to the landfill it doesn’t come back. For the most part, the trash is contained but it does continue to wreak havoc producing gases and contaminating leakage. However, it is no longer a part of our home, our safe place, our haven.
What is the trash in our spiritual lives that needs to be taken to the curb? Is it a repeated lie, echoing in our head, saying we’re unworthy, unimportant? Is it wrong thinking that tells us God is not for us, He is no longer faithful or that He’s going to let us down? Is it a behavior God wants to change in us but we cling to it like a child with a pacifier, favorite stuffed animal, or blankie?
Let us ask Him about our trash and be willing to own it and take it out. Let us take it to the cross and leave it there. We may have to empty the trash every day for a while but we cannot let it overflow, we cannot let it pollute our walk, His purposes, and stink up our witness.
Will you join me in taking out the trash?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Father God, we ask You to show us the trash in our lives. We ask You to help us bag it, triple bag it, and take it to the curb. Help us to be rid of it for good. Help us to bring Your beautiful truths and Your unbreakable promises deeper into our lives. Oh Father, we are not trash cans but vessels of You. Help us make more room for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.