“But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.” (2 Kings 5:13-14 The Message Bible)
On the back of a magazine, there appeared an add for some very stylish, chic sneakers. In large print on the ad were the words, “Modern Minimalist.” Great timing! I was waiting for the Lord to call my attention to something as a sign of what to write today. That advertisement, well done I might add, was the “something” for which I was looking. The male model was clothed in a no collar shirt that was coordinated with his clean white jacket. His accessories included a pair of tinted glasses and a grey light wool cap. His eyes are focused downwards. His feet are not shown. One fashionable light brown shoe with a white sole were positioned at the bottom of the ad, along with the designer’s name and city. I suppose by definition of minimalist, the ad was to show that you can be styling by focusing on simplicity. If it was reference to art of attire; a modern-day message of how minimalism can be applied to one’s wardrobe. Of course, you and I both know about minimalism as it applies to clothing ourselves. We picked it up during the pandemic. Dressing every day is so simple; tee-shirt and exercise pants or sweatpants. If you want to go out, perhaps ad jeans. I’m praying for you if you are one that has to go back to the workplace and contend, compete, or just keep up with the fashions adorned by your co-workers that you deem as being great trendsetters when it comes to clothing choices. Just as a side note, now you realize how companies that wore uniforms increased productivity. Output was not interfered with by concentrating on to how to compete with co-workers in the area of fashion.
Let’s take a minute and ponder on why the Lord called my attention to the add I have referenced; something more faith related than fashion related. Could it be He wanted me to tell you to that you could simplify your life by letting Him order your steps? I wonder if He wanted me to remind you to make your journey through life simpler by just walking by faith and not by sight. Did He want me to emphasize that you don’t have to wait until you have an abundance to be a blessing for Him, because He can take the minimal, small means, and produce great results through faith? There is the possibility, perchance, that the Lord wanted me to present some advice using a minimalist stye and to convey a certain message in three words, “Consider your ways.” Three simple words, yet they will produce some thinking by every hearer. Still, perhaps God wanted to simplify the formula for all believers who are searching to be trendsetters by listening to Jesus’ two pertinent words, “Follow me.”
Perhaps none of those things are what the Lord specifically had in mind, but they were worth exploring, weren’t they? Since it is Sunday and you will hear a specific message sent from the Lord when you go to worship, this idea of minimalism just might point to our need to hear what the Lord has to say for us, all for a specific purpose. And after having ears to hear, we will play a role like the magazine model in the ad above. No, we will not be modeling any type of outfit, but making sure we are clothed in righteousness, so much so that we are noticed as light in a dark world. However, as opposed to looking down like the model, look up, focusing your eyes on the Lord from whence our help comes from. He’s the One who keeps us clothed in righteousness. As far as Your choice of actual shoes, that really does not matter to me. Just keep walking in the light, with your feet shod with the gospel of peace. One more thing! Even though you are not exempt from problems, pain, persecution, or peril, you can minimize such things by living in a way that you are combining listen with your believing in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost and, with acting on the words you receive from above!
Today, at the minimum, enjoy and benefit from your worship experience this Sunday. Respond through the week, not just for a few hours or even this sacred day. It won’t be that difficult! Be blessed!
“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.” (Micah 6:8 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King