TRAVELLING LIGHT – CATH SLEVIN
Scriptures:
Matthew 5:21 -26 MSG
James 4:1 -10 NIV
Points:
1. The Problem
2. The Pathway
3. The Promise
In this powerful message, we’re challenged to examine our spiritual health and the quality of our relationships. The key scripture, Matthew 5:21-22, reminds us that even anger towards others can be as damaging as murder in God’s eyes. This teaching emphasizes the importance of reconciliation and dealing with conflicts promptly. Just as we pay attention to our physical health, we’re encouraged to be intentional about our spiritual diet and exercise. The analogy of carrying emotional baggage like oversized luggage serves as a vivid reminder of how unresolved issues can weigh us down. We’re called to humble ourselves, submit to God, and make the first move in reconciling with others. This message urges us to shift from low-level, defensive thinking to high-level, growth-oriented mindsets. By doing so, we can experience true spiritual freedom and healthier relationships with both God and others.
Travelling Light: Unpacking Spiritual Health
In our journey of faith, we often encounter moments that challenge us to examine our spiritual health. Just as we pay attention to our physical well-being, it’s crucial to tend to our inner lives with intentionality and care. This reflection invites us to consider what it means to maintain spiritual vitality throughout our lives.
As we age, many of us become increasingly conscious of our physical health, investing in various interventions to maintain our appearance and vitality. But what about our spiritual health? How can we ensure that we’re growing old spiritually healthy?
Just as a balanced diet and regular exercise are essential for physical health, our spiritual well-being requires intentional nourishment and action. We need to pay close attention to what we’re taking in spiritually and how we’re exercising our faith. It’s possible to become “spiritually chubby” – full of knowledge but lacking in application. This state can lead to a form of spiritual stagnation, where we’re not processing and acting upon the truths we’ve consumed.
The key to maintaining spiritual health lies not in our own efforts, but in making space for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. It’s about Holy Spirit empowerment, not personal performance.
In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus addresses the issue of anger and its destructive power: “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” (MSG)
This passage reminds us of the weight our words carry and the importance of addressing conflicts promptly. Jesus instructs us to prioritise reconciliation even over acts of worship: “If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.”
Often, our spiritual health is directly related to our relational health with others. The greatest commandments – to love God and to love others – underscore the significance of healthy relationships in our spiritual journey.
Unresolved conflicts and offenses can become heavy burdens, like oversized luggage we’re trying to drag through life. These burdens are often filled with careless words spoken to us or by us, and the offenses we’ve accumulated over time. God calls us to be intentional with our words, speaking life and encouragement rather than thoughtlessly pushing out hurtful comments.
James 4 delves deeper into the root of our conflicts: selfishness. Our unmet expectations of others, our desire to elevate ourselves, and our divided loyalties between God and the world all contribute to our relational struggles. The solution? Humility.
Humbling ourselves before God is not about thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It’s about shifting our focus from self to others and ultimately to God. Rick Warren outlines practical steps for cultivating humility:
- Submit yourself to God: Recognise that “God is God, and I am not.”
- Repent: Say sorry and return to a higher way of thinking.
- Pray: Go to God first with your issues, not to others to build your case.
- Make the first move: Don’t wait for others to initiate reconciliation.
When we humble ourselves, God promises to lift us up. This lifting up by God is far more secure and lasting than any attempt to elevate ourselves.
As we navigate our spiritual journey, we’re encouraged to maintain a “high-level thinking” approach – remaining open, curious, and growth-minded. This contrasts with the “low-level thinking” of defensiveness and victimhood that can hinder our spiritual progress.
In our pursuit of spiritual health, we’re invited to know Jesus more deeply. The more we come to know Him, the more grace and peace we receive – not more punishment or burden. It’s through this deepening relationship with Christ that we find the strength to unpack our emotional baggage and leave it behind, stepping into greater spiritual freedom.
In this process, remember the words of James: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” As we draw close to Him, He promises to draw close to us, guiding us toward spiritual wholeness and a life that truly honours Him.
Discussion Questions
- In what ways might we be spiritually stagnant, taking in God’s Word but not exercising our faith through action?
- How can we be more intentional about our spiritual health and growth, similar to how we care for our physical well-being as we age?
- What ‘suitcases’ of offense or unforgiveness might we be carrying, and how can we begin to unpack them with God’s help?
- How can we shift from a mindset of judgment towards others to one of love and understanding, as Jesus calls us to do?
- In what areas of our lives might we be ‘playing God’ or sitting in His chair, and how can we submit those areas back to Him?
- How can we cultivate a habit of true repentance, not just saying sorry to diffuse situations, but genuinely returning to God’s higher way of thinking?
- What steps can we take to move from ‘low-level thinking’ (closed, defensive) to ‘high-level thinking’ (open, curious, growth-minded) in our spiritual lives?
- How can we make the first move towards reconciliation in our relationships, even when it feels difficult or undeserved?
- In what ways can we deepen our knowledge of Jesus, and how might this impact our ability to extend grace and peace to others?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come to You with hearts longing to be unburdened and free. Thank You for the invitation to travel light, leaving behind the baggage of anger, unforgiveness, and selfishness. Help us examine our spiritual health and surrender every area that needs Your touch. Teach us to humble ourselves, to seek reconciliation with others, and to speak words that build up rather than tear down. Guide us to submit to Your will, repent with sincerity, and embrace a mindset of grace, love, and growth. As we draw near to You, Lord, draw near to us. Help us unpack the weight we carry and step into the freedom and fullness You have promised. May our lives reflect Your peace and our relationships reveal Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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