SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1340

“Don’t Go Far”

I will let you sacrifice to the Lord your God … Only you must not go very far away… – Exodus 8:28

Pharoah proposed a compromise – Moses refused.

The world system that we live in is influenced by Satan.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – 1 John 5:19

As a result, the world system hates Jesus, hates Christianity, and hates Christians.

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world – John 17:14

Compromise, meeting others half-way, the art of giving and taking to maintain peace is good in some contexts. The Truth of God’s Word, however, is absolute and not subject to compromise: Jesus is the only way, sin separates us from God, and repentance is necessary for salvation.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil – Isaiah 5:20

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. – Luke 13:3

Government Restrictions: Our secular world system is like Pharoah, tolerant of our Christian faith, but with limits: Don’t go too far.

Worship in church and Christian fellowship contexts, but don’t pray in public.

Worship your God but do not speak His Name in public speeches.

Worship your God but remove the Ten Commandments and other references to Him from your places of work and schools.

You can have your business Christian value statement, but you must compromise those values for special interest people – Do not go far.

So, they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:18-20

Social Restrictions: The ideologies of ‘political correctness’ and ‘woke’ have been carried to the extreme in our social contexts. To speak the Truth of the Word of God, albeit in love, is deemed to be ‘hate speech’ and subject to punishment.

Homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27)

Abortion is murder (Jeremiah 1:5)

The world says: ‘You can have your Christian faith and Bible, but do not go too far.’

Will you stand firm on the Truth of God’s Word? Will you stand in the gap for the unborn and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves? Are you all in with Jesus?

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. – Psalm 82:3-4

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9

Self-Imposed Restrictions: The sad truth is that the desires of the flesh and the pride of life become self-imposed limits on our Christian Walk. We will follow Jesus, but not too far.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16

‘I will give money, but a tithe? On the gross? And offerings on top of that? I will worship in tithes and offerings, but not too far.’

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me…in your tithes and contributions… Bring the full tithe into the storehouse – Malachi 3:8

‘I know that some movies, music, and video games expose and immerse me in the unholy aspects and sin of this world, but I need entertainment. I can handle the poison I am feeding my mind and spirit. I will worship you with my life, but not too far.’

‘I really like this person I am in a relationship with, and we plan to get married. It is so expensive to maintain two separate apartments and it makes more economical sense to live together. I will follow you, Lord, but not too far.’

It is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”- 1 Peter 1:16

‘I know I should eat right and exercise to maintain health in my mind and body. But there is so much stress with work and all and I really like to eat and I need to relax and chill out. I will worship you, but healthy foods and exercise, that is going too far.’

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

All In with Jesus: Are you ‘all in’ with following Jesus? The disciples left everything when He called them to follow Him. They were all in. Are you following, but at a distance? Are you following, but not too far?

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. – Luke 5:11

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me: Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord… – John 12:26; Mark 8:34; 2 Corinthians 6:17

Our Prayer: Lord, I repent for my compromises with the world and the desires of my flesh. I repent for the times I have quenched your Spirit and given in to my flesh and societal pressures and failed to be all in and boldly follow you without reservation. Create in me a clean heart, Lord. May I serve you, and you alone, wholeheartedly, in faith and obedience to Your Word.