A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

 2 Timothy 2:21 (Amplified Bible), “So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.” I had sat some empty boxes by my garbage cans in order for the garbage truck to pick them up during the weekly route. Later that day, I noticed the garbage cans were empty, but the boxes remained. Thinking it was an oversight, I sat the boxes back out the following week by the garbage cans. But once again, the garbage cans were emptied but the boxes remained. A week later I inquired of the sanitation worker about the boxes. He informed me that it was his company’s policy not to pick anything up unless it was in a garbage bag. He said absent of the policy, they do not have the ability to determine what is meant to be thrown away, and what is merely located in the same proximity of their customer’s garbage cans that is actually not trash. Thus, a customer clearly identifies what is to be discarded by placing it in a garbage bag. He said, “We can’t read your mind. If it’s garbage, put it in a bag. Otherwise, we are not allowed to pick it up.” In retrospect, the policy makes sense. There must be a clear distinction of what we intend to rid ourselves of. This is also true in a spiritual sense. I think there are times when we have intentions of discarding certain behavioral, communication, or thought patterns from our lives yet we never fully follow through. We may “sit them by the curb” with the other garbage, but we do not “put them in a bag” clearly releasing them to be picked up for permanent disposal. Today put the garbage in a bag. As we rid our lives of contaminating behaviors and influences, we must be definitive in clearly identifying those corrupting elements, then fully release them to the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, so we may continually be transformed into a consecrated vessel for His glory, with each new day.