So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. – Ephesians 5:15

Last month my wife and I flew out to North Carolina to visit our son and daughter-in-law in the beautiful mountain area of Asheville. We always love visiting them for we have such a great time and are dreading the day when its time for us to leave and return home. When we returned home this time, everything seemed to be in order as we left it or at least it appeared to be. But the next morning when the sunlight began to ease into each area of every room, we suddenly were met with “fine lines” of silky cobwebs hanging from within corners, from light fixtures and every place we seemed to turn. This year in East Texas we’ve had an unbelievable amount of rain and we’ve seen more of our share of spiders, grasshoppers and many other little insects around our home and some have found a way to enter in uninvited. It’s amazing how these unseen “fine lines” can become visible only when brought into the light.

There’s are other “fine lines” within the life of a believer that I would like to focus on today. Fine Lines that every believer must identify and be able to overcome when faced in their Christian walk as they live each day. There’s a fine line between contentment and greed in the life of a believer. The line that separates between the “things” that we want and between the “things” that we need. In other words, between enough is enough and where our desires feed to accumulate more and more which ultimate will never satisfy. As each day passes, and I fall more in love with Jesus, I find that it really doesn’t take much to satisfy me for nothing satisfies like Jesus. As artist Fernando Ortega says in his song, “….you can have all this world, but Give Me Jesus”.

There’s also a fine line between the fellowship and association with the lost of this world while reaching out in love. Many a believer has slipped away slowly and have been consumed in the lost ways of this world with good intentions of winning them over. You see, temptation is always present and we must truly guard what enters our mind and guard our hearts when we associate with this world and its ways. I John 2:6 reads, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” We, as believers in Christ, must draw from the power of the Holy Spirit within us when seeking out the lost of this world. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Even Jesus himself had to get away and spend time with the Father each day for he continually had the crowds and mobs of people that were wanting his attention.  There was a time in my life when I had much zeal but so little wisdom when it came to sharing my faith with others. It was like I was running a 100 yard dash and leaving Jesus at the starting blocks. We must walk at His pace, in His time, and go where He says go and stay when He says stay. 

There’s also the fine line of hiding our eyes from the darkest of this world’s insanity and the worst of this world’s profanity. If we’re not careful, we will surely miss that one single person that is in need of us. I can also testify that I have been in jobs before when it was almost unbearable to go to work and listen to the filth and perversions from so many around me. Often I believe they would say things to see how I was going to respond and to see if they could hit that certain “righteous” nerve to get me riled up. (much like the Sadducees and Pharisees of Jesus day would do to try and trap him) If this sounds like you my friend, be encouraged that you are making a difference where you are for if they didn’t see Jesus in you, they wouldn’t be spouting off things as they are. Just love them like Jesus. You don’t need all the answers to all the questions, just simply show them the love of the Lord and pray for them. You might just be the answer to their prayers.

Yes, there is a Fine Line for the life of every believer we must walk, but with the help and power of the Holy Spirit within us friend, God has promised us victory over every circumstance in our lives. The apostle Paul said, “Thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

For His Kingdom,