Inventory Time
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity
(Colossians 3:12-14)
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“It’s time to inventory.” How I hated those words when, as a teenager, I was working at the local five and dime. I wasn’t alone, either. Everyone from the manager on down, dreaded inventory. It meant long hours of counting everything on the counters, under the counters, and in the stock room, without the aid of modern conveniences like calculators and computers.Everything from socks to screws, paint to powder puffs, and pounds of candy and nuts to nylon hoses. It was a time-consuming task but necessary in order to determine not only what was on hand but what needed to be ordered from wholesalers.
There was another upside to the process. Damaged items and those that looked shelf-worn were discarded or repriced for fast sale. So, although we dreaded January inventory, it felt good when everything had been counted, cleaned, and straightened. It gave us the feeling of a fresh beginning for the new year.
It is good for us to periodically take inventory of our lives – our attitudes, motives, actions, and methods. Even if we no longer make new year’s resolutions, we will profit from this endeavor. God’s Word can serve as a guideline as we take stock of supplies on hand:
LOVE: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).
Let us love one another, for love is of God…if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us (1 John 4:7,12)
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FAITH/TRUST: We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7)
COMPASSION/COMFORT/KINDNESS: The Father of mercies and God of all comfort…comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4)
All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous (1 Peter 3:8)
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HUMILITY/SUBMISSION/OBEDIENCE: To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion (Romans 12:16)
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12)
TRUTH/KNOWLEDGE/WISDOM: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10)
Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
STRENGTH/RENEWAL/GROWTH: The Lord is the strength of my life (Psalm 27:1)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2)
PRAYER/REVERENCE/THANKFULNESS: supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men for…all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
FRIENDSHIP/HOSPITALITY: A man who has friends must himself be friendly (Proverbs 18:24)
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9)
GENTLENESS/PEACE: Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble (Psalm 119:165)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)
Lord, search me often; help me know
how I need to change and grow;
that I’ll be centered in Your will,
yielded, confident, and still.
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