Divided Hearts

“Divided Hearts”

2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1

Hey everyone! JT here. Thank-you so much for dropping in and spending a few minutes with me. You know, it seems like every time I step outside of my house these days, I see another face mask! It doesn’t matter if it is the grocery store, the park, the gas station. If you are on planet earth right now you are almost guaranteed to see someone wearing a face mask!

My favorite is when I’m driving down the road and pass someone driving beside me, and they’re wearing their face mask, IN their car. I’m like, you’re not gonna get the virus from yourself… It’s just awesome

I don’t blame them one bit for wearing their face mask. It is so good for us all to take proper precautions during this time. We definitely want everyone staying healthy and wells and everything like that; but the other day, I got to thinking about the face masks and it reminded me of another face mask, or spiritual protective barrier, we as believers, should be wearing.

In the book of 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminds the church at Corinth to stay protected and to stay well. But, the precaution he was referencing had nothing to do with a virus or bodily ailment. Instead, it had to do with a spiritual ailment, or lack thereof.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:11 and says

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17  Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18  and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul made it clear to his friends in Corinth that there was something to be cautious of, and that had to do with not ever becoming “unequally yoked.” Paul got this talk of becoming “unequally yoked from the book of Deuteronomy, where the scriptures speak of someone taking an ox and a donkey and like putting them on the same work plow. Not only does the writer of Deuteronomy tell us not to do put the two together; he makes it clear that putting the two together really just doesn’t make much sense.

In the same way, we should be careful not to mix donkey and oxes in our life as believers. What I mean is that all throughout the scriptures we can find God telling us to be careful doing life around those who are not believers.

Now, I don’t think that God means we can’t be around non-believers. Some people go too far with this teaching. God can’t mean that having a friendship with a non-believer in and of itself in wrong. I know that he can’t mean that because Jesus Himself tells us in Luke chapter 7 that he was a friend of sinners. Jesus didn’t come to save those who felt like they were all good, but instead he came for those that were in NEED of a Savior. We learned that in chapter 5 of the gospel of Luke.

So, God can’t mean that he thinks it’s best for us to stay clear of non-believers completely. I’m not suggesting that at all. But, I am suggesting that Jesus instructs us to be careful.

In the book of Philippians, Paul encourages believers in Philippi to consider living a life of discernment. Discernment means taking every situation and conversation into intentional prayer consideration.

I think that this idea of living a life separated from the world, yet also on mission for Christ can be tricky and confusing. There is not a cookie-cutter answer for every situation. This is why Jesus sent another Helper, the Holy Spirit, to advise us in every situation.

You know, if you have a drinking problem, and your buddies invite you to hang out in the middle of a field on a Friday night, you might have an ox and a donkey on the same plow. If you’re dating a girl that doesn’t have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, you might have an ox and donkey situation.

But, if you and your spouse feel called to invite your Buddhist friends over for dinner and game night, and you develop an on-going friendship, you might not have an ox and donkey situation, like Deuteronomy tells us about.

There are times we have to make tough decisions as believers. We have to figure out what honors God, protects our children, and strengthens our walk with God just a little bit more. If the decision that we make don’t do those things, we might need to reconsider.

We can’t forget the Israelites who made it all the way to the edge of the promised land, and then got all mixed up in their Canaanite friends who worshipped false gods. Their decision to turn from Yahweh God cost them forty years wandering in the wilderness.

Let’s be wise with these decisions. Be wise. Be encouraged. I am praying that you will spend today on mission for Jesus, telling the world people around you about the Savior, and sharing God’s love with them. But, remember, use prayerful discernment in every conversation, and situation you face.