SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1300

“He Lingered”

But he lingered. So, the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. – Genesis 19:16

Abraham and Lot needed to separate their families so that the land could support them both. Abraham’s right was to choose first, but in a generous gesture he allowed Lot to make the first choice.

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. – Genesis 13:10

Lot lusted after and chose the best land for himself, and he moved near Sodom. This interaction between Abraham and Lot is a picture of selflessness and selfishness. Lot was motivated by the lust of his eyes, and without consideration for Abraham, his elder, he seized the opportunity and took the best land for himself.

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. – Genesis 13:12

Lesson Point: When we act on the lust and desires of our flesh, we position ourselves as easy prey for the enemy to draw us into sin.

Lot started out living near the city and eventually was drawn into it. He became unequally yoked with the culture of Sodom and we later see him sitting at the gate as a man of position in the city. Lot was tormented in his spirit, living a compromised life, being caught between two positions.

And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard) – 2 Peter 2:7-8

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him…” – 1 Kings 18:21

Lesson Point: We cannot live with one foot in the world, satisfying the lust of our flesh and the other foot in the Kingdom of God, seeking to follow Jesus.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matthew 6:24

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. – 2 Corinthians 6:14; James 3:11-13

Do we foolishly think ‘we can handle it’, living the Christian life and a worldly life at the same time?

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. – Mark 14:38; 1 Corinthians 10:12

Lesson Point: God is merciful. Lot lived a compromised life and although he lingered, not wanting to be separated from his worldly lifestyle, God mercifully and forcefully removed him from the danger of destruction about to be unleashed upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

It is easy for us to judge the speck in Lot’s eye. But what about the plank that is in our own eye?

Do we linger with our eyes on a provocatively dressed person?

Do we linger a little too long when encountering a sensual and sexually immoral picture, video etc., that pops up on TV or our computer?

Do we linger, harboring hate, anger, jealousy, or envy?

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:19-21

Lesson Point: We must choose: a life serving our flesh or a life serving Jesus. We must not look back, or linger, longing after our former life of sin. We are able to deny our flesh and follow Jesus, not in our strength of will but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:24

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness… And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15

May you live an uncompromised life, in the world but not of it, walking in the Peace, Power, and abiding Presence of Jesus.