We are approaching one of the most hotly contested times of the year in the Arnold household.  It’s the time when the weather moves from cool to cold and the night creeps in quickly.  It’s during the long cool and cold nights of winter that I reach deep into my closet and pull out old – FEMCO.

You’ve never seen eyes roll like my wife’s when I slip on the exquisite, royal blue, thread barren sweatshirt of bliss and joy.  It used to be funny around here when I paraded around the house in sheer comfort… now I have to hide my cherished shirt every morning so she won’t throw it away.  Not to mention that my daughter is now on the bus with my wife trying to get it from me!

I know this almost sounds cliche’ – you know – guy has a shirt and wife wants to toss it… but you have to understand… this shirt has been with me through the good and the bad times… it’s family!  I’m going to confess at this point that when I was 180 lbs soaking wet… the shirt fit quite well… now at 220 lbs… it’s kinda sad looking.

Isn’t it interesting how we cling to things way beyond their usefulness.  Even more so for us guys.  We find a way that works or something that fits, or a style that sets well with us… and we don’t change it.  We are creatures of habit and we love our creature comforts.

My FEMCO shirt is a pretty good analogy of how our faith in God gets at some point in our lives.  We hang on to a part of our life that was good.  We wear it out and refuse to look forward to what God has in store for us.  Rather than break away from tradition and comfort, we choose to go back to the old comfortable FEMCO shirt when things get cold and dark.

God… is rolling His eyes.  He really wants you to get rid of that old way… and continually press forward to find new and exciting things that He wants you to experience.  Now there’s nothing wrong with keeping a few things around that work… but don’t get stuck in the rut.  Your faith has to grow beyond what you were used to wearing when you were a kid.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

There comes a point when we have to move on.  It’s our turn to be the men, no matter your age.  We’ve got to grow up in our faith and do something about the injustices in our community.  To take action to care for the widows, the orphans, and the oppressed.  Are we ready?  Are you ready?  Are you willing?

I can tell you that throwing away my FEMCO shirt will have to happen in order for me to find something new that is comfortable and something that fits better for the man I’ve become.  It won’t be easy.

From time to time, we all reach back into bad habits that keep us from becoming reliant upon God.  It’s time to put them down.

May your prayer seek the strength that only God can provide to put down your childish ways and give you the wisdom to begin acting like a man of faith.

Peace,

GREG
Acts 4:31
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