Walking the line

I no longer want to be counted among the simple or the youth or Proverbs 7. I want to be a man, to grow up, to put childish ways behind me. No longer to I want curiosity to control me, but I want to be governed my sense, God's wisdom. Oh, how I long for the wisdom of God.

How close can we get to ______ (fill in the blank) without sinning?

Reread that question which is so overly used by so many, myself included. See how absurd it sounds. Really, if we are children of light, walking in the righteousness of God, filled with His Spirit are we going to care how close we can get to sin without actually sinning? Or are we going to run with all of His strength, as fast as we can into the arms of Him that can make us all the more holy.

I was a staff member at a rehab where at a certain point in the evening the men were not allowed outside their rooms. Their door however was to be open at all times. We called this period quiet hours as it was geared toward winding down for the day. Many of the men rested, while others wrote letters home. Some used it get to know their roommates a little better. However, a few wanted to stand in the door for they couldn't think of much else to do besides see how close they could come to being in the hall without actually being outside their room.

I would walk up and down the hall monitoring quiet hours. I would make sure the men were being quiet and staying out of the hall. I saw these few men standing at their doors and I had to wonder if they were really wanting to sin, or if they just wanted to stand in their door.

I would walk over to them and walk them back into their room. We would chat for a few minutes as I gathered why they wanted to stand in the door. Most didn't know why. They just knew that was as far as they could go.

I am like these men far too many times. Walking the line in different areas of my life, not even knowing why. How easy it is to get pushed or pulled off that line, and go somewhere I don't want to go.

Lord, give me wisdom to know when I am walking away from you.