Walking the Same Pace to the Same Place

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? -2 Corinthians 6:14

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?-Amos 3:3

Although I am far from perfect, and am well aware of my own shortcomings as a human being, I pay close attention to people's true intentions and character. The Holy Spirit gives believers discernment so that we can test the spirits, to know what kind of person we are dealing with.

 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1In doing so, we are able to not only receive red flag warnings but also we are able to know how to pray for others, especially those of the faith.

 

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

(Also read 1 Timothy 5:1-16)So, it is important to not only look out for ourselves so that we do not fall, but for others as well. If we become linked up with unbelievers or those who are teetering the fence in the faith, we become what the Bible calls, "unequally yoked."

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. To plow in this way, the animals have to walk at the same pace, in the same direction. If one tries to pull away from the other, the job cannot be done effectively. It makes sense that this metaphor would be used to describe what it is like when people in friendships or romantic relationships are trying to be close to each other, or intimate, but not be walking in the same level, same pace, or same direction in the faith. It's causes a mess on many levels, and frustrates the will and work of God.

In the past, I have justified certain behaviors, especially in my romantic relationships with believers. I didn't want to appear to be judgmental or uncaring. The early warning signs/red flags that were revealed to me I ignored and proceeded to walk with them anyway, to my detriment. It was subtle at first, beginning with unclean words/phrases/inferences, that they'd speak and were comfortable with. Then soon to follow, the actions took place. Before I knew it, I was so entangled in the relaitonships, in my hopes, my dreams, enjoying things of the flesh, that I had no idea how far I had fallen, nor how much damage had been done! I kept dismissing the still small voice, the gentle whisper of God, chalking it up to me just being "unreasonable." I endured so much pain, heartache, and suffering on so many levels because of my foolishness. It opened up a door for the enemy to wreak havoc on my spirit, and my life, draining me of my energy, watering down my witness for Christ, causing me to fear and doubt my identity, leaving me broken, frustrated, confused and without His peace. The Devil's subtlety is his specialty. I was listening to myself, to the devil, my emotions, instead of the Word of God, which is the final authority and standard of the life of the believer. His Word indeed protects us and guides us if we live by it. Without walking obediently with the Lord, we will never see it coming and often ignore His warnings of protection. The Spirit whispers, the Devil screams. This is why we need quiet time alone with the Lord every day, to hear Him and to gather strength against temptations.

If  there is one phrase of advice I could share with all of you, to spare you the pain and sorrow of compromising your faith in relationships it is this, "DON'T DO IT!" I am telling you will be defeated every time and come out with less than what you started with. Going with God and His standards and His ways, is the only way that leads to the life you long for.

I believe that if I am able, by the grace of the Living GOD, to walk this walk of faith, and desire to please Him with my life and actually do that, then there is no reason that any self-professing Christian in my life, whether a potential partner or friend, should not be able to do the same. Because the same Spirit that lives in me and is doing this work in me and my life, should be evident in you also. I should be able to reach for you and you reach for me.

The Scripture above, "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" is a rhetorical question. The answer obviously, is NO! Walking by faith is hard enough alone, let alone with someone who is pulling off into a completely different direction. There's no support, no understanding, and no progress. Avoid unequal relationships altogether, but love them from a distance. Jesus had said in Matthew 7:15-20, "You will know them by their fruits."  Just like we know what kind of tree we are looking at by the fruit it produces, for instance, an apple tree is not going to produce peaches, or a rotten tree is not going to produce healthy, good fruit, we will know the true character of a person, by the way they speak, act, and live.

God is always faithful to give us a "heads up" in interpersonal relationships. We just need to pay attention, act upon His revelation of the situation, through the knowledge and application of His Word, walking in the Spirit, and not according to our flesh and our own fallible understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.-Proverbs 3:5-7

I will close with this: If I see something that has been revealed to me about someone that is not Christ-like, and this person is unrepentant, (unremorseful, comfortable in it), I make my assessment right there. While I will pray for them, and if the Spirit moves I will admonish in love, they will not  have access beyond the gates of my personal arena. We must guard the gates of our hearts with all diligence and protect our faith, as we walk along the narrow path that leads to life. An imbalance of any kind, will cause us to lose our ground and fall.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.-Proverbs 4:23-27

 

~Shalom & GOD bless.

 

 

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.-Ephesians 1:7

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness-Hebrews 5:2