Living the life of a Christian requires many sacrifices. It reminds me of living at home with my mother, where, to avoid living on the streets, there were certain chores I had to do. Luckily, there were not too many, and they were relatively easy, but when I did have to do chores, I had to do them correctly and on time. Every Thursday was trash night, and it was my job to make sure the garbage made its way to the end of the driveway before morning. I never saw any real importance to taking out the trash each week. After all, if I forgot, they would come again next week, but mother never saw it that way. Now, as a Christian, taking out the trash is one of the most important things in my life.

Before you comment that my elevator doesn't go to the top floor, let me explain. Taking out the trash isn't any more important to me today than it was when I was living with my mother, but I have found an entirely new way to look at it. Of course, I don't mean literally taking out the trash. As Christians we need to "take out the trash" that is in our minds and fill them with what is good. We need to examine ourselves Galatians 6:4 tells us to do.

To be true follower's of Christ, we must have strong faith. Faith is essential to our everyday lives as members of the body of Christ. "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." {Romans 10:17} Part of the process of cleansing our minds is studying and meditating on the scriptures to build more perfect (complete) faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us "we walk by faith, not by sight." To have such faith, we must know what God's word says. We spend most of our days at work or school, playing on sports teams, reading papers, or playing video games. How much time do we spend reading God's word? I have talked to many of the more elderly in the body (and might I add more wise as well) and they all seem to tell the same story. They tell of a time many years ago when average members were educated in the Lord's ways. They tell of a time when scriptures were know by heart and when the preacher wasn't the only spiritual specialist, as it seems he is today. They talk of times when congregations weren't lukewarm and when they added new members on a regular basis. They remember a time when the Church was growing.

Sadly, I cannot tell the same story today. Today, congregations are smaller, zeal is a commodity, and baptism is less frequent. Today, the preacher is the person expected to bring in new faces. People complain that Wednesday night service is not "required," rather than looking forward to it as time to meet with God and the saints. Why the change? The answer is uncomplicated. We have moved away from God's word. Brethren, we are what we eat. If we read Sports Illustrated and watch ESPN everyday, we become sports buffs. If we drink everyday we become drunks. If we fill our heads with trash, we become products of the same trash we feed our heads. We need to feed on God's word. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworth--mediate on these things." {Philippians 4:8}

We reap what we sow, Galatians 6:7. What are you sowing? We need to see a drastic change in today's members. Where are our priorities? Why don't members know the scriptures? Why do we have trouble getting teachers? Why is the preacher depended on so heavily? Why do we think he must teach our friends and neighbors? Maybe the answer to each of these questions is: somebody forgot to take out the trash. Could that someone be you?