March,
2002
"Simplicity"
Do you ever
wish you could just simplify your life? Get back down to the basics?
I know I do. I feel as if I spend half of my life in a car driving
somewhere to do something for someone. I almost envy the people
who lived in the days when walking was the only mode of transportation
- unless you were rich enough to have a horse or mule or ox. I
think of all the calories I would have burned walking where I
needed to go. I love the thought of the pleasure of working in
a garden and growing my own food instead of rushing to get to
the store before it closes (I guess, nowadays, because of our
crazy schedules, there are few stores that even close anymore…24
hour shopping, banking, fitness centers, and so on…) But
then I come to my senses and realize what a whole lot of work
a lifestyle like that would be…I guess what I really like
are the nostalgic thoughts without the hard work of the reality
of them….
And yet….the
simple things in life are really what give us the most pleasure,
if we will but take time to enjoy them. The smell of a flower,
the beauty of a full moon, the newly learned word or expression
of a grandchild, the voice of a child over the phone who lives
in a city far away, a newly sprouted seedling, in a long talk
with a friend…
God has really
been reminding me of this principle of simplicity. Lately, as
I have prepared to speak for different occasions to different
groups of women, He just keeps telling me, "Keep it simple.
Get back to the basics." He is not saying to remain a babe
in Christ, nor is He saying to rebuild the foundations of the
faith. What I believe that He is saying is, "Remember Who
I am and what I have done for you and why."
I looked up
"simple" in the dictionary. It means: Having or composed
of only one thing or part. Not involved or complicated. Being
without addition or modification.
"Simplicity":
The condition of being uncombined. Absence of showiness or affectation
or pretense.
In 1 Corinthians
1:18-31, Paul states that his task is to "preach Christ and
Him crucified." Very simply put, the power of the gospel
is in the Cross. He writes of his concern for the church of Corinth
again in 2 Corinthians 11:1-3, "Would to God ye could bear
with me a little in my folly and indeed bear with me. For I am
jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through
his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ."
I, too, feel
as Paul. I am concerned for your souls and for your eternal destiny.
There are so many "other Christs" being preached out
there that unless you know God and Jesus Whom He sent, you will
be led astray. Paul says that we, as the church, are espoused
to one husband, Jesus Christ, and we must remain in this simple
truth, not adding anything to the gospel.
The word used
for simplicity in the above scripture from 2 Corinthians in the
Greek is haplotes, and means singleness, sincerity, without dissimulation
or self-seeking. It can also mean generosity, liberality and bountifulness.
I think that
is beautiful. There is one, single purpose for the cross…Jesus
came to seek and save the lost. And the love of God, that Jesus
bestowed upon us at the cross was so liberal and bountiful that
we cannot even contain the fullness of the blessings He brought.
Ephesians
4 makes it pretty clear - there is one body and one Spirit, one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all.
Jesus is the
one and only way to this Father God who has such love for us that
He gave His one and only Son so that whosoever believes in Him
will not perish but will have everlasting life.
This simply
elegant and profound truth is so amazing to me. God loves me,
God created me, God redeemed me, God wants me to know, and love
and serve Him for all eternity.
This same
truth is available to you and every other person in the world.
Won't you join me in this truth by praying with me?
"Lord,
I receive this truth of Your love for me. You have done it all
- I can do nothing on my own. But by the power of Your Holy Spirit,
I now receive the work of the Cross of Jesus Christ in my life.
I accept His redemption of my soul and I receive the new life
that is mine as Your Holy Spirit comes to live within me and make
me Your child. I want to know You and love You and serve You for
all eternity. I yield my life to You. Take my life and mold me
and make me into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen."
Now won't
you take this good news, the gospel, and share it with someone
else? How simply beautiful - God's love just keeps moving on from
heart to heart to heart….
L.O.V.E.,
Patty
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