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In the old days of big department stores, most of us wouldn’t have thought twice about skipping a few floors to shop only for what we want. But as we all know, our faith isn’t meant to work the same way? Are there entire “floors” of the Christian journey we’ve been avoiding, and blessings we’ve been missing? Please read more to find out.
Perhaps like me you are old enough to remember those grand, old-time department stores that stretched upward floor by floor. I have been to places like Macy’s in Manhattan, Harrods in London, and Higbee’s in Cleveland. I still have memories of my mother taking my brother and I to the Lion Store in Toledo to get our new school clothes when we were small boys.
Which old stores bring back memories for you? Each level of these stores had its specialty: clothing on three, appliances on five, toys on seven, perfume on nine. The escalators hummed, the elevators chimed, and we went to the floors that most interested us.
Sadly, it’s tempting to approach the Christian life like we were shopping in one of these old stores.
Imagine a towering ten-story building called The Discipleship Department Store. Each floor offers something good and holy — something we know belongs to the life of discipleship:
- Floor 1: Generosity
- Floor 2: Patience
- Floor 3: Worship & Sabbath
- Floor 4: Sexual Purity
- Floor 5: Forgiveness
- Floor 6: Humility
- Floor 7: Prayer & Sacraments
- Floor 8: Honesty
- Floor 9: Courage & Evangelization
- Floor 10: Love of Enemies
When we look at this layout, we should all ask ourselves: which floors of faith do we visit most often? And, which ones have we been avoiding?
Some of us might feel very at home on the “Forgiveness” floor, but rarely make it to the “Sexual Purity” floor. Others spend lots of time on “Prayer & Sacraments” floor but quietly avoid the “Love of Enemies” floor. Still others love the “Generosity” floor but skip past the “Honesty” floor when tax season rolls around.
Without realizing it, we may treat the Christian life like a spiritual shopping spree. We browse. We pick and choose. We collect a few things we like, admire others from a distance, and altogether avoid the parts that make us uncomfortable. But faith was never meant to be a shopping trip. Jesus didn’t call us to be shoppers — He called us to be disciples.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
— Mark 8:34
The call to holiness isn’t about selective participation. It’s about total transformation. We must always remember that the Beatitudes aren’t multiple choice. The Ten Commandments aren’t a buffet line. And living out the Gospel isn’t something we do halfway.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we’ll master every area at once. We’re all still growing. But grace is given not only to strengthen us on the floors we visit regularly — it’s also there to help us take the escalators to those floors we fear.
In fact, some of our deepest healing often takes place in the very areas we resist the most:
- On the “Humility” floor, our pride begins to break — and our hearts begin to soften.
- On the “Honesty” floor, our masks come off — and true freedom begins.
- On the “Love of Enemies” floor, we begin to discover what love really means.
The beauty of our Christian journey is that we don’t travel these floors alone. Christ is with us. Our faith communities walk with us. And the Holy Spirit keeps inviting us upward, floor by floor, into a fuller, richer relationship with God.
As we reflect and pray this week, we should each ask ourselves honestly:
- Which floors of the faithful life have I avoided for too long?
- What blessings might be waiting for me there?
The elevator door is open. The invitation is ongoing. Let’s not settle for a partial faith. Let’s trust that God’s grace meets us on every floor — especially the ones we’d rather skip.
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below. What department stores do you remember shopping in as a child? And, if you’re feeling brave, let us know what floors of The Discipleship Department Store have you been avoiding?
Heavenly Father, when it comes to my faith, I do not want to skip over the important floors in the Discipleship Department Store. Take me by the hand and guide me to the floors I have been resisting. Help me to die to myself and live for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
AMDG
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
- Is Faith Like An Old Time Department Store? - November 10, 2025
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