RENEWED

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:20-24).

Have you ever seen the TV show Hoarders? It’s about people with hoarding disorder (a true mental illness) who collect and store things with disastrous results. Most often, their homes are stacked to the rafters.

Worthless trash fills entire rooms, floors buckle under pressure, and in extreme cases rodents scavenge freely.

There’s no order in a hoarder’s world. Relationships are broken (if not completely destroyed), and quality of life is in the pits. Yet these people can’t let go because their perspective is skewed. They can’t release their “valuables”even if the purging will bring them reconciliation with loved ones and a better way of life. Again, it’s a sickness. A psychiatrist and trash removal service are on hand to help remove the junk and begin the healing process.

Just as hoarders hang on to stuff, we can also hang on to junk that threatens to destroy. Sin, unhealthy thoughts and unholy relationships contaminate our spirit. To begin the heart renewal Jesus died for and put on our “new self,” we first need to make space by clearing out the old.

If anyone could speak about life renewed, it was Paul. Meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and throwing off his “old self” literally changed him-- and the world.

We get a glimpse of Paul’s life change in his words to Timothy: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 1:12-14).

The truth is in Jesus. In fact, the truth is Jesus. Scripture tells us we are works in progress, never complete, and always moving toward righteousness and holiness through Him. Our journey is long and arduous, but Jesus supplies us with abundant strength and nourishment for our souls.

Jesus desires to give us full life in Him. He wants us to experience His love and join Him in the adventure He has in store for each one of us. But we need to be awake and alert. Sin separates us from God. So we must be diligent about cleaning house. Let’s not hold on to the worthless clutter that belongs to the old way and robs us of the peace and joy a renewed heart brings.

As Jesus reminds us in John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

What is the worthless junk you can begin tossing out to experience renewal of your heart and mind?