Today’s Blog: Spiritual Social Distancing?
TODAY’S PROVERB: One who isolates oneself seeks his own desire; he defies all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:1, TLV
Ha! I had to laugh when I read this verse. No doubt, our COVID-19 isolation is all about our desire to be healthy — but, it is about others, too. This virus isolation is more along the lines of the Children of Israel isolating themselves during the first Passover (Exodus 12:1-13).
“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and strike down every firstborn, both men and animals, and I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am Adonai. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. So there will be no plague among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.“
THE LORD OUR GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS, EXODUS 12:12-13, TLV [EMPHASIS MINE]
What about the future?
As the quarantine and isolation mandates wind down, I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships. Today’s chapter has much to say about them. From family to friends to business associates, there’s wise counsel for us.
Spiritual Social Distancing?
It’s nice to have folks who want to be around us, isn’t it? Still, we need to be careful who we allow into our “inner circle.” In other words, there will be those whom we will need to have “social distance.”
Before we ever repose deep trust with someone, their character should be vetted by the Holy Spirit. Then, we need to exercise that discernment muscle to listen for the Spirit’s counsel.
This is not to say those dear friends and family won’t hurt or offend us — they will. We’re human and we’ll all fall short from time to time. Forgiveness, resolution, and moving on is good for us — as my dad used to say, “It puts hair on your chest.”
As long as those in our inner circle have an honest heart and their motivation and intent are wholesome, we can learn much from the challenges.
However, if someone’s motivation and intent are clouded and uncertain, we should ask ourselves a few questions. Then give the answers time to incubate so they present their true selves. Here are two questions I ask myself:
- Does this person seek to see me succeed? That the vision GOD has given me — not them — is being realized by my actions.
- Do I see a consistent pattern of seeking my wellbeing? Are our interactions balanced with giving and taking?
These two questions cannot be answered in a day, week, or even a few months. That means having self-control to be sure we don’t reveal the most tender parts of our heart. Even if they initially seem sincere.
Even if a soul isn’t allowed into our “inner circle,” we can still reach out in other ways with GOD’s love. Being creative as we have been these past months.
The deepest trust . . .
Above all else, we must reserve our deepest trust for our Heavenly Father, His Son and Spirit. When we sense a check in our spirit about revealing a personal matter — even with our inner group — honor and respect that discernment. It may not be time to disclose it. Perhaps it is a private issue that much remain as such between us and the LORD.
Relationships are complicated. As an introvert, married to an introvert, it’s too easy to remain in isolation. Putting ourselves out there leaves us vulnerable to hurt and offense. Fortunately, our Father knows that and will continue to help us work through this.
His Kingdom is built up when we work together. Being in unity and seeking to get along sends a message to the world — that the world will know Yeshua (Jesus) is LORD by our love for one another (John 17:20-26). It’s one of the best evangelism tools we have. We should all desire that!
May we work together wisely, my friends.
Proverbs 18:1 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
