The Simple Life is a GOOD life!

 

This is a picture of our first year in Florida for the winter. Stephanie and I retired from teaching in May that year, traveled the country in this fifth wheel, traveled to Peru on a mission trip, and were set up in southcentral Florida for the winter. 

We left teaching to serve the Lord and to remove any barriers that kept us from serving him. We completely simplified our life. We had no "brick and mortar" home. Everything we had we carried with us in this camper. 

THE SIMPLE LIFE IS A GOOD LIFE!

Yet, we have such a tendency to complicate life. As I was reading Hebrews chapters 7-9 this morning, I kept thinking what a great simple gift God gave us when Jesus came to live amongst us. The complicated rules and system of sacrifice were replaced with Jesus and his once-and-for-all sacrifice on the cross. I'm not sure I appreciate that simplicity as much as I should.

We now have a single, FOREVER, High Priest. We do not need to appeal to him through constant sacrifices on the altar. He bought us with his own blood. Through his sacrifice, we are forgiven and can be assured that we will join him in the heavenly realm for eternity. PRAISE GOD!

"Because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day." (Hebrew 7:24-27)

Stephanie and I still live a simple life. We own a vehicle with over 200,000 miles on it, we live in a rented apartment above our ministry, and even though Stephanie had to go back to work to get insurance, we live a life focused on sharing the gospel as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19. But, as we live this simple life, we are constantly amazed at the abundance of blessings we receive. I cannot recommend enough the joy of living a simple life. 

As we continue our march toward Christmas 2023, remember the simple gift of Jesus we received and the way that gift can simplify our lives today. Just choose to follow him, remove everything else, and you will experience a wave of peace like no other!