God's Pure Love for You

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:36, KJV. I was reminded of this when I was cleaning my cluttered closets out days ago. The verse took on a new, practical application for me.

The Holy Spirit had been leading me to get rid of my excess clothes that I don’t wear anymore. I knew that there are many people in greater need of them than I am. Why hang onto them? As I sorted through them, God taught me something, which He does if we take time to obey! I humbly share this story in hopes that it will help you.

I saw that by listening to the Lord, He was setting me free…of clutter! He was also setting me free to bless someone else, the needy, with my excess. I began to think: The Son will set me free as I clean out my closets, my shelves, barns, wherever I have things collecting that are gathering dust and becoming a burden to me. Why hang onto them? God will provide for all my needs as I trust Him. Why not share the wealth? I could sell them, but I think God will bless more people, including me, if I just give them away. Luke 6:38, NKJV says, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you”

We in America may think we don’t have much, but compared to many in the world, who are starving, almost naked, and living in unsanitary conditions, eating contaminated food, we are RICH! Most of us reading this post have more than the beggar on the street in our own country.

If we put aside our worry, insecurity, and lack of faith, God will bless us with the gift of giving! What a joy to share His love with the needy by just cleaning out our closets and giving the unneeded stuff away! After all, you can’t take it with you. Of far more importance than that, God’s word says in many places to care for the needy. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” Proverbs 19:17: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

Doing this will prevent your house from becoming a big jumble of junk that your children will have to clean out after you leave this world. If there are things that you want to pass onto them, of course, specify that in a will or an estate plan. Even give those things away while you’re still here! (Now I’m talking to me!)

If you keep a clean house this way, your children will see your legacy of trust in God as your Provider…since you have generosity and an open hand with your possessions by sharing God’s love with the poor in a tangible way.

But wait, it doesn’t end there. Christ can also set you free from old habits and sins that are hanging around or hidden away in your heart’s closet! Let Him into your life as your Savior and Lord, and He will free you from clutter indeed! Above and  beyond the example of the clothes in your closet, He will fill you and transform what you have left, making you intentional in how you use the good you have only in Him!

2-2-12 Psalm 127:3

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

2-1-12 Psalm 127:4

“Like arrows in the hand of warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”

1-31-12 Psalm 127:5

“How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

1-26-2012 John 8:36

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

1-23-2012 Proverbs 19:17

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

1-22-2012: Proverbs 17:5 NIV

“He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.”

1-21-2012: Deuteronomy 22:5 NASB

“A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.”

1-20-2012: Deuteronomy 15:11

“For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”

1-19-2012:  James 1:2-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”