In yesterday’s blog post, I wrote that “abstinence” programs won’t work effectively without a good “entitlement” program. However, I don’t want to give the impression that I am diminishing abstinence as an essential factor for spiritual growth. There is reason for Peter’s compelling words: “I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11).
WE ARE AT WAR.
The root of the Greek word “abstain” is “distance.” Peter’s command could read: “keep away from and distance yourself from your enemies.” A key element in keeping your distance is establishing and maintaining good boundaries—to keep them out and keep you in. In war, the enemy’s strategy is to break down your boundaries and capture you. Peter is telling us we have to “abstain”, establish and maintain our boundaries because ‘fleshly lusts’ are waging war against us—a battle between flesh and spirit (Gal. 5:16).
The boundaries we maintain are both spiritual and physical. For example, a good physical boundary for a Christian businessman is never to travel alone with his secretary. Spiritual boundaries are defined for us throughout the commands of the New Testament writers (too many too mention!). But Paul captures the essence of good boundaries when he says: “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). In other words, by the Word and Spirit we are kept “in bounds.”
How good are you at border patrol? Are you keeping a ‘safe’ distance from temptation? Are you keeping yourself “unstained by the world” (James 1:27)? What makes it difficult of course is that we are living in enemy territory. Every time you leave your prayer closet and go out into the world, you enter a war zone. Make sure you have your abstinence plan with you. Don’t leave home without it.
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