Read Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2:1-10; 2 Peter 3:10-12.

Digging foundations – excavating – always produces a surplus of soil and stones that need to be removed from the site to allow the construction to go ahead. In some parts of the British Isles this excess hardcore is called ‘spoil’.

As we dig down deeper into our relationship with God, learning more of His character and the depth of His loving kindness and faithfulness towards us, we also see clearly that He is holy, just and right. The light of His holiness reflects onto us and exposes the things that could well spoil (blemish, ruin, destroy) our relationship with Him.

Today’s readings show that God’s desire is for us to be a holy (consecrated, set apart) people reflecting His character to others by the way we behave, so any spiritual hardcore needs to be removed. This ‘spoil’ falls largely into four areas:

1. Fear and anxiety. This is particularly pertinent when we are dealing with personal storms that include people, finance, sickness and disease. Behind every fear is a lie of some kind that we believe to be truth. These lies need weeding out and replacing with God’s Truth.
2. Negative or destructive thoughts. These are also rooted in lies either about ourselves or about God.
3. Unforgiveness. We all get wounded by what others do or say, but holding onto unforgiveness only causes further hurt as we allow feelings of bitterness and resentment to take hold. Making the choice to forgive someone, even when we do not feel like it, is one of the most powerful tools for our freedom in our spiritual armoury.
4. Sin and its resulting patterns of behaviour. We might use these as coping strategies or defence mechanisms in an attempt to meet our legitimate needs for security, acceptance and significance through anyone or anything other than God. These too need rooting out and replacing with godly choices.

All of us have some degree of ‘spoil’ in our lives. We would be lying if we said we did not; however, as beloved children of our loving and patient covenant partner God, we no longer need to be bound by the limitations these things place upon us.

If, in reading this week’s devotional, you recognise things in your own life that you identify as in some way ‘spoiling’ your relationship with God, then perhaps consider the New Beginnings Discipleship Training School which is specifically designed to help us resolve our spiritual ‘spoil’ in a godly way.

Additional reading: Leviticus 20:7; Psalm 27:1-5; Ephesians 4:17-32; Hebrews 12:15.

Prayer Time:

Look over the lists of ‘spoil’ above. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything within each of the four areas where you know you do not trust Him with the outcome. Write them down.

Talk to God about these things. Ask Him to help you trust Him to be with you and on your side in whatever circumstances you face. More on what to do with this next week…

The other devotionals in this series can be viewed here.