Sound the trumpet …
hallow the fiftieth year …
proclaim liberty throughout the land …
It shall be a jubilee for you …
Leviticus 25:9-10
The trumpet has sounded (see Leviticus 25:9-10). Yesterday, we began our focus on God’s freeing principle of Jubilee. For the next six weeks, we’re going to focus – in very practical ways – on how to discover more joy, peace, freedom, and balance in our lives and in our families. And it all starts with …
Simplicity.
Yesterday, I read some reflections inspired by a little research on simplicity. It was all good (and I say that, not because I wrote it, but because it inspired me as I uncovered it!)
But when reading it in a sermon, it blows by too quick! So today, I’m just going to print it. And then through the rest of the week, we’ll reflect on it.
So today … Read it. Think about it. Let it seep into your heart. And starting tomorrow, we’ll start talking in more detail about how to make this message of freedom come more and more alive in your life.
Enjoyment of life is not based on how enjoyable our circumstances are.
Rather, enjoyment of life is an attitude of the heart.
It is possible to live our lives blandly.
It is possible to just go through the motions.
It is more than possible to be caught up in a spider web of complication.
And complication is a form of bondage.
It is the work of Satan.
The Prince of Darkness loves complication.
And he hates simplicity.
Why? Because of the joy and power it brings
Simplicity is focusing on one thing: Jesus.
(And it is learning to see Jesus in the lives of others.)
Simplicity is not doctrines and particulars.
It’s Jesus.
It’s spending time with him.
And it’s finding satisfaction in him … (and with his people).
And it’s not looking for satisfaction in possessions and activities and things.
Simplicity is understanding the freedom of Jesus’ offer of grace.
It’s forgiveness rather than guilt.
It’s hope rather than regret.
It’s confidence rather than dread.
And it’s freely offering rather than legalistic duty.
God doesn’t love us because of what we do.
He loves us because he loves us.
Simplicity comes from simply accepting that love.
Simplicity is trying to live life Jesus’ way.
It is honesty rather than the maddening complexity of lies (and trying to keep all our stories straight).
It’s integrity rather than the complexity of sin … and its inevitable consequences.
It’s godly wisdom rather than the hit and miss nature of our changing opinions and the world’s changing morays.
It’s forgiving others rather than the complex and drowning baggage of bitterness.
If you’re ready for some simplicity, find a horn and blow it. We’re declaring a season of Jubilee and we’re claiming God’s plan for freedom!
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who’d like to be
known as a simpleton
As we said yesterday, simplicity is focusing on one thing. So, the question is this …
In your life, what is your one thing?
Wait! Let me give you a way to answer to that question tomorrow. A solution to life’s busyness. Today, however, let me focus on our chronic lack of simplicity. Let’s call it the devil of complexity.
Now, stop and think about the way most of us live. Aren’t we all trying to juggle too many balls?! If I asked you make a list of all the things you have to do in each of these categories, how long would your list be? How many work demands? How many home chores? How many daily necessities? How many kid’s activities? How many volunteer commitments? How many things do you really want to do ... need to do … hope to get to?! And how many things does your spouse have for you on your honey-do list? Are there hobbies you want to get to, books you want to read, shows you want to watch? Are you tired yet?!!
And yet, that’s the way most of us live our lives. It’s an unending and overwhelming checklist.
Our heart is glad in him
because we trust in his holy name.
Psalm 33:21
In my sermon
Enjoyment of life is not based on how enjoyable our circumstances are. Rather, enjoyment of life is an attitude of the heart.
Its Possible to
Live blandly
Go through the motions
Its more than Possible to
Be caught up in a spider web of complication.
Complication is a form of bondage. It is the work of satan. The Prince of Darkness loves complication and hates simplicity because of the joy and power it brings
Simplicity is focusing on one thing: Jesus. (And Jesus in the lives of others. )
It’s not doctrines and particulars. It’s Jesus. (And it’s finding Jesus in the face of others.)
Simplicity is one thing: spending time with Jesus. It’s finding satisfaction in him (and his people) .,. not in possessions and activities and things.
Simplicity is understanding the freedom of Jesus’ offer of grace. It’s Forgiveness rather than guilt. Hope rather than regret. Confidence rather than dread. And Freedom rather than duty.
God doesn’t love us because of what we do. He loves us because he loves us. Can you accept that love?
Simplicity is trying to live life Jesus’ way. Honesty rather than the complexity of lies and keeping all the stories straight. It’s Integrity rather than the complexity of sin’s inevitable consequences. It’s Godly Wisdom rather than the hit and miss nature of our changing opinions. It’s Forgiving others rather than the complex and drowning baggage of bitterness.
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