Dear church,

“… turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left.” – Joshua 23:6

The biggest obstacle to your life of discipleship is distraction. The world will pull at you. This pull is not occasional, and it is not faint. You will find lots of other ideas and philosophies and ways of life that will appeal to your heart and mind. But a disciple has a single-minded focus on Christ, turning neither to the right nor the left. 

Biblical wisdom tells us this, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). You must believe this if you are to get anywhere with Jesus Christ. His very mission was to call you out of the way of death. He demands we repent and turn toward the kingdom of God. We are to believe in the gospel (Mark 1:14).

When we mix in with the world and its ways, we lose our distinctive flavor as Christians. We forsake holiness for something less. Righteousness has nothing to do with lawlessness. Light does not dwell with darkness. Jesus doesn’t share space with evil (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

You could make God’s Word an add-on to your life. If you do that, you will never reach the maturity you seek, and the danger is grave. Decide now to root your life in God’s Word. Trust the wisdom is true. Cut away every impediment to full obedience to God’s way.

Chris