“Luverne City Council members took action Tuesday night toward redeveloping two lots on Highway 75…” This was the opening sentence to an article on the front page of the local Star Herald newspaper this week. The article goes on to explain the details of the real estate that will be purchased and demolished all in the interest of removing blighted properties and future development. I don’t know the exact number, but it seems the city has purchased quite a few properties this year in an effort to clean up the town. I have heard many conversations wondering where the city is getting all the extra money to purchase the run down properties, but can anyone honestly deny that at least some of the buildings needed to be removed. It is wonderful that some of the parcels have been redeveloped or are in the process, some have been used for valuable training for the fire department, but some of the homes have been removed only to reveal more problems with the properties behind them. Will those properties be the next recipients of the council’s action?
We also read about a redevelopment project in the Bible. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:22-24 “Get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” (GNT)
Paul himself was a great example of being redeveloped. He went from persecuting Christians to being poured out like a drink offering on their behalf. Paul transformed into a servant of Christ Jesus after Jesus took action along the Damascus Road. He got rid of his old way of life and accepted Jesus as The Way. Instead of being the persecutor he became the persecuted.
Some redevelopment has been going on in my own life as well. The Holy Spirit has taken action against bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart and is making room for more compassion and love. Removing the blight is hard work and messy, but it’s worth the cost and necessary.
So what kind of action are you taking? Do you have some blighted properties in your soul that you need to remove for future development? Have you removed one level of junk only to see the next layer underneath? Are you open to the Holy Spirit doing some clean-up in you?
Colossians 3 tells us to rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, lies, sexual immorality, lust, greed, and all kinds of evil desires in order to make room for compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Let the Holy Spirit take action in your heart and let the redevelopment begin today.
Erin Jacobsma