Yesterday morning was recycling day in our part of town. As usual, each street was lined with dark blue buckets overflowing with plastics, glass, and aluminum. But there was one difference from most other recycling days: many of the buckets were laying on their sides with their contents spread across the street. Because of the incredibly windy weather, many of the buckets had been blown over. As I drove my son to school, I couldn’t help but notice all the people out in the street chasing down the items that had spilled out of their blown-over blue buckets.
Well, before I knew it, that became me. When I returned home, what did I find but the bucket of recyclable items I had put out blown over as well. So, as quickly as I could, I jumped out my car and chased after the plastic jugs and aluminum cans, as the wind attempted to blow them out of my reach. Eventually I did win my little war against the wind by getting everything picked up, but it wasn’t easy!
It seems like these days a lot of people are like those recyclables being blown about by the wind. Wherever the next wind of fashion or entertainment or philosophy blows, that’s the way they go. Whichever direction the winds of morality or social acceptability blow, that’s the direction they move. It seems to me like many people are just “blow’n in the wind.”
The scriptures teach us to mature in our faith to the point that we become strong enough to stand against the winds of our world. We are warned not to be people who are, “…blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming….” Instead we are to, “…grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14, 15 – NIV). That means being people filled with faith and knowledge and a level of maturity that keeps us doing what is right, no matter what may be blowing around us.
Don’t let your life become one that is blown about by the gusts of this world. Don’t allow yourself to be a man or woman who is just “blow’n in the wind.” Grow in your faith and in your relationship with God to the point that you are able to stand firm, no matter what winds may blow into your life.
Have a good day!
Pastor Harris (Friday Devotional 2/13/09)
Englewood Assemby of God