Title: A Tale of Two Stumps
Our Grounds Committee recently completed a tree project around our church. They had the canopy of trees raised across from the sanctuary and around the FLC, the dying pine trees in the corner of the property cut down, and the tree that had died next to the church sign was completely removed. It was a big project and it really helped to increase the beauty and safety of our campus.
At our monthly Guys Eating Lunch (which all males are welcome to join on the third Thursday of each month), we were discussing the tree project and got into how you remove a stump after you cut a tree down. Many of you have dealt with stump removal at your house or work and know that there are a few options. You can let a stump rot until it naturally returns back to the earth; but that can take years. You can burn it out; but that takes time and effort. You can grind it until it mixes with the dirt; but that takes equipment you own, rent, or pay someone to come in and use on the stump for you. Regardless of which route you take to remove the stump, you have to know it is going to cost you something.
Life can be like that sometimes–dealing with our own “stumps.” There are areas of our life that we are working to improve: habits we are trying to get rid of, habits we are trying to maintain, or often it is a sin that we need to give to God. Last Wednesday night in Bible study, we talked about how it’s a process that takes time, energy, and effort. Like removing a stump, allowing God to work in your life is an active process. God can reach in and change a life overnight, but often there are corners of our life that remain difficult to clean up, a sin that is hard to lay down. While God will walk with you every step of the way and give you the strength to overcome, you still have to take the steps.
Philippians 2:13
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Removing “stumps” in your life won’t be easy and will take work, time, and effort…it will cost you something. But it is important to remember that you aren’t working alone. God is at work in you as a believer in Jesus. It is God that helps to clean you, sanctifies you, and helps you become more like Jesus. So let’s keep getting rid of our stumps to become more free to follow Him.
Prayer: God, give us the strength to deal with the “stumps” in our lives and trust you to guide us through as you work in us. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Aaron
pastoraaronhinton@gmail.com
(704) 300-0081