Love... Is Restraining

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Proverbs 10:19 (ESV)

I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”

Psalm 39:1 (NKJV)

“Restraining”, when applied to godly love, has 5 key meanings and applications:

  1. Within the church, love demands the restraint of kind, gentle, and humble correction. Paul's letters are loving exhortations. If we neglect to warn our Christian kin about the serious consequences of intentional, habitual sin... then both they and we have a lot to lose.*

  2. Within the world, love requires the restraint of church condemnation of outsiders. Paul puts it this way: ‘What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside’ (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

  3. Within romance, love compels self-restraint. Remember Joseph and Potiphar’s wife? From her offer, he 'Fled, and went outside' (Genesis 39:12). With Bathsheba, David showed NO restraint (which brought him ceaseless family problems).

  4. With enemies, restraint looks like meekness,** the ironic opposite of weakness. When we graciously turn the other cheek, some bad guys will be shamed and turn to God, like the Centurion who worked and watched all that happened at Christ’s crucifixion.***

  5. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 (with God’s marvelous descriptions of love), all of the “Love is NOT/does NOT” statements demand considerable self-restraint. (I need to read and rehearse them daily, because Satan keeps tempting me daily.)

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

As God’s entertainment communicators, self-restraint is a necessary script to master– in order to rise and shine. In this rare and unusual calling…

Don’t copy the judgmental church. Too many “saints” show too little restraint, especially in Christ’s mandate to love. Do copy Jesus, our perfect Model!

Love… Is Restraining (Part 61)

* 'The prophet is a watchman to the house of Israel. His business is to warn sinners of their misery and danger. He must warn the wicked to turn from their way, that they may live. If souls perish through his neglect of duty, he brings guilt upon himself. See what those have to answer for, who make excuses for sin, flatter sinners, and encourage them to believe they shall have peace, though they go on. How much wiser are men in their temporal than in their spiritual concerns! They set watchmen to guard their houses, and sentinels to warn of the enemies' approach, but where the everlasting happiness or misery of the soul is at stake, they are offended if ministers obey their Master's command, and give a faithful warning; they would rather perish, listening to smooth things' (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 33:1-9). Ezekiel 33:8 Commentaries: "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand.

** Meekness is strength under control. It allows God to fight our battles and administer perfect justice. NOTE: We’re address people (who are enemies), as opposed to Satan and demonic powers, which we DO fight and defeat with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

*** 'When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely He was the Son of God!' ' (Matthew 27:54, NIV).

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to be models of Jesus. We all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.

WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban