Time For Some Maintenance

This week as I was driving, the maintenance light in my car came on telling me it was time for my next maintenance check-up—i.e. oil change, tire rotation, etc.  It’s a handy little tool that they have added to our cars these days.  Rather than rely on memory, personal records, or the little sticker in the upper left-hand corner of the windshield, which is easily ignored, the light comes on and stays on until the maintenance work is completed and the light is reset.

I have often heard it said that we ought not live our lives in “maintenance mode.”  That is, we ought to live our lives with a sense of accomplishment, moving ahead in life, being productive—not just maintaining the status quo of life.  Yet, there are times when maintenance is necessary and there are things in life that simply need to be maintained.  In the case of my vehicle, I don’t need to reinvent, rebuild, nor re-purchase it; I just need to take proper care of what I already have.  Such is the case with many things in life—e.g. the house in which I live, my marriage and family, my body, even my relationship with God. 

Unfortunately, not everything in life comes with a maintenance light that turns on when it’s time to stop and give the care needed.  Yet, if we would look more carefully there are signals that tell us it’s time to invest effort into taking care of that which we already have.  For example, when my relationship with God begins to feel a bit dry and routine, it’s as if a maintenance light has gone on calling me to pause and to invest some extra time and effort into my spiritual life.  After all, I don’t need to reinvent my relationship with him. I don’t need to start all over. I’m already his child, saved by grace.  I simply need to take care of that which God has already given to me in order that it might remain vibrant and strong.

I believe King David understood this principle well as expressed in his psalms. For example he wrote, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you…Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live…On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night…I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:1-8 – NIV)  Like David, you and I need to regularly seek God, pray, worship, study God’s Word, and live conscious of his daily presence.  It’s all part of maintaining the wonderful relationship with which God has blessed us through Christ. 

So, maybe today it’s time for you to do a little routine maintenance on your spiritual life. Don’t hesitate. Don’t wait for things to break down. Rather, take the time necessary and put forth the effort to take care of the precious gift with which he has blessed you.  You will be so glad you did! 

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris