The Imaginary Line

In today’s verse, we see a definite dichotomy between living in the world and living in the Lord.

“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 ESV

One must either choose to live a life in service to God or a life debasing oneself to what the world offers. In direct contrast to this is the phrase, “What you do is OK, just as long as you don’t cross the line.”

This thinking, unfortunately, pervades Christian thought and attitude today. Valuable time of growing deep in the Lord is wasted on debating where the “proverbial line” is between the world and Christ.

There could be 30 people sitting in the church and I’ll guarantee you that the line will be in 30 different places. At the end of the day we have to face the reality that there is no line. We see this throughout the Bible. Even Jesus said that it’s either one or the other in today’s verse.

We make decisions about life based on a line that isn’t even there.

We use that line to rationalize compromising and potentially sinful decisions. By rationalizing, we fool ourselves into arrogantly believing that God has to accommodate our rationalizations.

If we have to question it, then we shouldn’t do it. Always err on the side of righteousness. Always!

It is of the utmost importance that we grasp this concept so that we may continue growing in the Lord rather than being stifled by trivial questions about how far is too far.

It’s that spiritual laziness that causes us not to make the effort to both make and carry out godly decisions.

It is in this way that we, by our works, deny Him.

How are you going to erase the imaginary line you have made for yourself today?

Guest Devotional by Pastor Terry Parkman. Pastor Parkman is the Next Gen Pastor at River Valley Church in Apple Valley, MN. He resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Christina, and daughter, Avalie. Learn how you can write for us here.