#Simplicity - Part 2

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Living simply is not easy. It can be painful at worst and annoying at best to face the way your choices have been determined by values you don’t actually like.

Living complexly is easy, in some ways. (Complexly probably isn’t a word, but it sounds like what it is--your tongue has to try to do several things at the same time just to say it--so I think it suits the purpose here.) It takes less effort to avoid conscious decisions than to confront them.

Living complexly may be easy, but it can keep your life’s journey from progressing. I’ve ridden some life loops for too long. Maybe you have too. I am less far in my pursuit of my calling than I could be right now because there have been times when I have allowed lesser values to take the wheel.

Living simply is not easy. It involves the interruption of habits, paths on which your mind sleepwalks every day.

Living complexly is living for some things while saying and maybe even believing that you’re living for other things.

Living simply is bringing the things you actually live for into line with the things you want to live for.

This isn’t a bootstrap gospel. Every step of the soul-renovation journey is prompted and enabled by the Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t, however, expect the Spirit to stamp us with His character with no participation from us. His Word says that we have to set our minds on His things (Rom. 8:5). Mind-setting takes effort. It’s grace-enabled (Rom. 8:11), yes, but not effortless.

The Spirit invites you and me to grow in our single-minded pursuit of God and the Kingdom. He’ll enable our growth, our ability to see places where we’re unconsciously living double-mindedly, and even our sensitivity to Him. Despite all that enablement, though, the Spirit-filled life does require engagement, working out through reflection and practice our understanding of His will.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Eph. 5:15-18

Over time, the Spirit-filled life is increasingly characterized by single-mindedness--that is, simplicity.

It may not be easy, but our lives are worth renovating. 

We have been created with a glorious identity for a glorious purpose: we are the body of Christ our Head, entrusted with representing the just and generous reign of the eternal God to the corners of the world.

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