by Jeanni Ritchie
There’s a fine line between guarding oneself and putting up so many walls that you become a prisoner of your own bars. The Bible can seem contradictory at times when it comes to protecting yourself in a godly manner vs. becoming a useless Christian isolated unto oneself.
The key is to find that balance in between.
Before we break down verses, I’ll share a game night anecdote. I was playing the card game Phase 10 with a friend last night. At one point he was on Phase 5 while I was on Phase 8 when I went out again. Showing me his cards (he had his phase but was holding on to it until he could lay them all down at once) I pointed out that he was now stuck on the same phase.
I imitated the wise Confucius. “Confucius say he who only plays defense never wins.”
We laughed about my off-the-cuff joke but it kind of stuck with me the next day. Why do we live our lives so defensively sometimes that it turns into mere existence instead of life? I know the temptation to put up walls after being hurt or grab on to control so tightly to combat fear.
And there are verses to warn us against evil.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
We should guard our thoughts and our hearts.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
We should guard our actions.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Ecclesiastes 10:8
But does that mean we should cover ourselves in bubble wrap and hide in a closet? No!
For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and hills before you shall break into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
And he said, ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.’ 1 Kings 19:11
Go. The first two letters in GOD. What are the first three in SATAN? Sat!
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
When you are a vessel for Christ, you cannot…you SHOULD not be hidden.
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:1
The proclivity to want to get alone with the Lord is natural. Peter, James, and John went to special places alone with the Lord. Like us, they wanted to stay there. But there was work to be done. The Lord never wanted them to stay there. He doesn’t want you to either.
Nor will He accept your indifference.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16 KJV
To put it even plainer, here’s another translation:
You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. Revelation 3:16 MSG
In games and in life, you’ll never win if you only play defense. The scoreboard of life tracks the Great Commission. Your final score will be announced one day like a season-end trophy ceremony. Are you gonna settle for the participation trophy or do you plan to rack up major awards?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
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