My Soul > My Buick: Moving Forward
Currently I'm sitting in a Caribou in Spring Lake Park, MN, not far from my home in Blaine, MN. Actually, I'm about a mile from where our old PPM office used to be and my car is in the same parking lot where our old office used to be. That's because I got to know a guy a few doors down when our office was located there who was doing some small business car sales and repairs. Turns out he persevered and continued his hard work and he now has like 5 or 6 other employees and a booming business of used car sales and a mechanic shop in the same lot where our old office is. I've stayed in touch with him and he's my go-to guy when it comes to car trouble or car buying!
My 2001 Buick Regal is in the shop. It's getting a bit old. I got it in 2007 after my 1995 Oldsmobile 88 died while I was on a trip to Minnesota during college. I've driven my Buick for five years now. My goal is seven years, meaning I need to keep it going until 2014. I drove my previous car for about five years. Many people complain constantly about car trouble- with good reason! I hate car trouble, of course. However, many of us have heard comparisons of used cars to our Christian faith. In order to really get somewhere, you need to maintain your vehicle. Can't get anywhere without driving it, and it can't be driven if there's not fuel in the gas tank or oil in the engine. Can't go anywhere if there's no wheels or if the wheel's don't have air.
In the same way as used cars, our bodies grow old. Our faith and spirit matures, and as we do, we need to oil the engines of our hearts and fuel our souls with the word of God. Remember that even though maintenance can often be tedious or hard, it's well worth it! In fact, if we're passionately pursuing Christ, maintaining our spiritual lives doesn't become a burdensome task, it becomes a glorious privilege to bask in the presence of our Lord! It takes time, earthly sacrifice and perseverance to maintain our hearts so that we're constantly moving towards God. It's a maintenance requirement that's well worth it!
From the words of the Apostle Paul we have a reminder what oiling the engines of our hearts looks like and what the product of a functioning and forward moving Christian faith resembles....
My 2001 Buick Regal is in the shop. It's getting a bit old. I got it in 2007 after my 1995 Oldsmobile 88 died while I was on a trip to Minnesota during college. I've driven my Buick for five years now. My goal is seven years, meaning I need to keep it going until 2014. I drove my previous car for about five years. Many people complain constantly about car trouble- with good reason! I hate car trouble, of course. However, many of us have heard comparisons of used cars to our Christian faith. In order to really get somewhere, you need to maintain your vehicle. Can't get anywhere without driving it, and it can't be driven if there's not fuel in the gas tank or oil in the engine. Can't go anywhere if there's no wheels or if the wheel's don't have air.
In the same way as used cars, our bodies grow old. Our faith and spirit matures, and as we do, we need to oil the engines of our hearts and fuel our souls with the word of God. Remember that even though maintenance can often be tedious or hard, it's well worth it! In fact, if we're passionately pursuing Christ, maintaining our spiritual lives doesn't become a burdensome task, it becomes a glorious privilege to bask in the presence of our Lord! It takes time, earthly sacrifice and perseverance to maintain our hearts so that we're constantly moving towards God. It's a maintenance requirement that's well worth it!
From the words of the Apostle Paul we have a reminder what oiling the engines of our hearts looks like and what the product of a functioning and forward moving Christian faith resembles....
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. - Romans 8:9-18
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