Sponge Theology
A Good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45
Suppose you have five sponges lying on your kitchen counter. Each member of your family has been cleaning different areas of your home, but the sponges all look the same. You are curious about what was cleaned but you can’t tell just by looking at the sponges since they all look the same. So what do you do?
You squeeze each sponge to see what happens. As you squeeze the first sponge, brown cola comes pouring out. Someone must have cleaned the kitchen with that sponge. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you see blue tub and tile cleaner oozing out of the sponge which leads you to believe someone used that particular sponge to clean the bathroom. In the third sponge, you find motor oil and conclude that this sponge was used to clean the garage. The fourth sponge produces a puff of baby powder when it is squeezed. The baby’s nursery was obviously cleaned with that sponge. Finally, the last sponge is dripping with floor wax which tells you someone used that particular sponge to clean the floor. As you lay the last sponge down, you look again at their similarity. They all look the same — until they are squeezed.
We are a lot like sponges when it comes to our faith in God. We look and act as if God is Lord of our lives. We say all the right things to all the right people and do right things in order to prove we are righteous. But what is really inside? What do our hearts really look like?
When a crisis comes and the pressures of life squeeze us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, what comes out? Do we respond to that difficult person in anger or with patience and love? Does revenge spill out in ugly words to that person who has hurt us more times than we can count or do we take a breath and remember that God loves them and that hurt people tend to hurt people? Does the pain of unresolved sin flood our hearts and minds as guilt spills out of our heart with a vengeance?
Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in. Fill your heart with the things of God. Stay in the Word each day. Spend time with faith builders who will encourage you in your faith. Seek God and His plan for your life. Pray about everything so that when life puts the squeeze on you – and it will – the very nature of God will come pouring out.
Grace & Peace, Pastor Bob
Stepping In Faith – Come & Walk with us!
Where – Otsiningo Park. Starting Wednesday, May 12th; 5:30 PM. “Every Wednesday, weather permitting. Bring a face mask or one can be provided. Sponsored by The United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge.
Meeting Place—North Entrance of the Park, take Howell Drive to Parking Lot. Bottled water & fruit will be available on a first come first served basis.
Led by: Michelle Stoll & Kathy Smith, for questions call 648-4339 (Church Office)
“Bring a friend, Make a friend” – Just do it!
Finance information:
Pastor’s Study & Prayer Group (Online Only): Sunday mornings 11:30 AM. Everyone is welcome 
Love and Truth: Studies in 1-2 John; 
Ladies Monday Night Book Study: Monday evenings 6:30-8:00 pm. (Online Only)
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE on June 10, 1-6 PM
