Believer, is there anything keeping you from a intimate, open-hearted, up-close n candid friendship type of relationship with God through His wonderful Son, Jesus Christ? Have you over time become distracted or unwittingly taken on an idol of some sort and now you need to chuck it aside? Is there anything prohibiting you from becoming the worshiper dash disciple-maker dash tactful fisher of individuals, that God wants to make you to become? Is there anything that you have recently been prioritizing ahead of it all.. even before your quiet time alone with the Lord in prayer, in fellowship, and Bible reading (vertical listening)?
If so, no matter what that person, place, or thing might be in your life, you just gotta count it as a loss in order to grow again spiritually ..as God intends for you. Yes, this is what Paul did back in his day. Go ahead and ask God and yourself if this specific habit I enjoy, or whatever it is, is a helpful wing or a hindering weight pulling you down?
The Apostle Paul said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…" (Phil. 3:7-8).
Are these beers really for me—are they helping me gain insight, discernment, and maturity? There was a time when I personally had to answer saying, "I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him" (Phil. 3:9, niv). Biblical Christianity has a lot to do with self denial so pray about it.
The writer of Hebrews once challenged us with these great words that we should never ever forget: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us" (12:1). What he didn't say was, "that I have set before myself" or "let us strip off every wing" or aid or discipline or friendship that really helps me to grow up in the Lord. No, no!
So ask yourself.. is this person or this thing edifying, inspiring, and motivating me towards righteous holy living? Is it building me up spiritually or is it de-edifying and tearing me down..or even worse perhaps.. oppressing and abusing me? Hey, if it's a boyfriend or girlfriend doing that to you, then just break up and ditch em. Find help quickly! Life is too short for that jive. We must love God more than everyone else! In fact our love for anyone else (and we are to love people wisely..) should be like hate in comparison to our far greater love for God.
God doesn't want anyone abused or injured, not even in a marriage arraignment, though He is very much for helping people to make their marriages work out. Yes, He still hates divorce and can help to fix your whacked marriage relationship if you'll only turn to Him with all your heart. Please seek Him all-out in His Word and do prayerfully seek out godly counsel. The Lord will be the One to show you all that is a wing in your Christian experience, or even a weight that you might even call an offense or a stumbling block, so that you can quickly shed it and advance more quickly in Him.
