Cross The Line

 In our world today it seems to be a fad to be called Christian. I think the shutdown is serving to separate sheep and goats. You will find many Christians that are afraid to go to church, afraid of a gathering but are not afraid of Walmart or a restaurant.  How close can we be to the world and still call ourselves Christian?  I have a habit when driving to try and figure out how fast I can go without getting pulled over and ticketed. Some believe you can go 9 miles over and not get ticketed. Like in a 65-speed zone go 70 to 74 and not get ticketed.  I know I think that way.  How much like the world can we be and still be called Christian? How close to the line can we live and not cross over.  I had an accident in a 60-mile zone, I was trying to go 65, in a hurry to get somewhere. I almost avoided the accident but not quite, and I wondered afterward if I had been going sixty would I have been able to stop in time?  God wants us to love him and be devoted to him. I think true love doesn't try to live on the line or as close to the line as I can get. I think true love obeys the speed limit. Maybe I look at it this way because of my legalistic upbringing. In Revelation God says he will spit those out of his mouth those that are lukewarm. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:16.   Do we look for loopholes?  In a book I was reading a story was told about a foster kid, I think she was about 15. She had been to several foster homes before. One day she comes down to the kitchen table and asks what are the rules here?  She was looking for a way to go to the line as close as she could. Think of the children of Israel, after receiving the ten commandments they wrote some 600 plus regulations explaining how to keep the ten commandments, there were always loopholes. Jesus came and did away with the old. Yes, we still keep the ten commandments but Jesus had a better way. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13;34.  Just follow Christ's example. Love as he loved. He gave his all. Jesus died for our sins. No loopholes, don't look how close to the line you can be and still be Christian. Love others as Jesus loved us. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2. Have you found a way to give of yourself?  Are you looking for the line so as to not cross it?  I think about that last accident and wonder if I had been going just 60, the posted speed limit, instead of 65, would I have been able to stop in time? I almost did at 65.  God bless, LVZ.