Pigeonholed

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Compartmentalize.

That’s a good word. It means: categorize, pigeonhole, group, classify, characterize, stereotype, label, brand; sort, rank, rate.

At the top of the first landing in our church building we have a wall full of boxes. Anyone in the church who wants to, has a box assigned to them. Anything belonging to that person goes into the appropriate box. Everyone is effectively “pigeonholed.”

That’s great for mail, but not so great when it comes to our spiritual well-being. We tend to compartmentalize our lives. A portion belongs to...... Another part is given to.... A third part is dedicated to.... A certain amount of this “sorting” is necessary to keep our lives as organized as the vicissitudes of life will allow.

But however we compartmentalize life, there is an overriding truth that needs to be applied to every area. Here’s how John describes it: “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5, 6).

Jesus had “compartments” too. He spent time with friends, he spent time at “work.” He spent time in prayer. He spent time sleeping and eating. But He was the same person eating as he was working. His priorities didn’t change when He left His friends to go and straighten out His critics or heal a sick man.

He always lived the light. He always walked in obedience to His Father. He always reflected who He was in everything He did and in every circumstance He found Himself in.

His compartments all belonged to His Father.

How do we know that we are “in him?” The Scriptures are littered with assurances of salvation for those who believe.

How do we know that we truly love God with all our hearts, souls, mind, and strength? When you and I walk in obedience to the Lord in every compartment of our lives, we will know that our faith, rooted in Christ, flourishes in fact.