Dear Sisters in Christ,

David laughed at me as he held me high in the air on the teeter totter.  He was on one side and I was on the other.  My weight was far less than his and he had the advantage to hold me wherever he wanted me.  We were courting (about 18 years ago) and we were at a church activity in Montour Falls Park, NY – Havannah Glen.  As we continued to play around on the teeter totter, we tried to see if we could balance and hold it steady in the middle.  It was almost a losing battle because of the weight advantage David had over me.  I was a willowy, tall (5’7) and thin 115 lbs. and David was a sturdy 185 lbs.  We had fun that day long ago and enjoyed going around the park and just spending time with each other.  It was nice to walk up the many stairs to the beautiful falls and sit and read our Bibles with each other.  It was a day we will never forget.  I even bought David a small porcelain figurine with 2 bunny rabbits sitting on a teeter totter in memory of that special “courtship” day.

This scenario reminds me of the verse in the Bible that says……..Pr 20:23 ¶ “Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.”

I think of how important having a balance is to God.  When we are “tipped” on one side and don’t keep the “teeter totter” of our life balanced, I think it displeases God.  There are so many examples of this and I am constantly trying to instill this value in my precious children.  The areas of balance about to be mentioned may bring a controversial reproach from some, but we are confident to take this stand, because it is all backed by God’s Holy Word.

There are SO many examples that can be depicted in this area………………….

~There are people totally focused on winning souls and little to no focus on godly living. Or, there are people totally focused on godly living and do little to nothing to spread the Gospel.   BOTH are extremely important to God.   Pr 11:30 ¶ “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”   Tit 2:12 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

~We see ladies dressed very immodestly bringing attention to their bodies rather than their countenances.  But then, we see ladies dressed frumpy with little to no style…………..giving the world reason to wag their finger at us regarding our “out-dated” and “frumpy” appearance.  God intends for women to look beautiful, but NOT sensual.  That is reserved for her husband alone!  Far too often, women in this day and age, take pleasure in exploiting their bodies to other men with the philosophy that the men should “control themselves”………………YET, our rape crime has gone up considerably in the last few years.  I believe that women that dress in a way that tempts men to lust, share in the guilt.  It seems so simple for ladies to dress in dresses/skirts for gender separation (De 22:5 ¶ “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”) and to properly cover themselves (according the the Bible that means properly on top -not too low or too tight- and all the way down to at least our knees – not exposing our thighs when we sit.)  The Bible shows that to show our thighs is considered nakedness.  (Isa 47:2 “Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.”)  Now again, there can be a false balance where all this is concerned.  People can become legalistic and pick on things

Picture David took of me in the Andy Griffith Museum on our fun Mayberry Trip!

such as perfume, earrings, makeup, style, etc. etc.  However, the Bible shows many times from His Word that He has created the woman to be beautiful but to NOT use her beauty for whoredom.  The chapter of Ezekiel 16 is a great chapter on showing this balance God desires from us…………….Eze 16:13 “Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
15 ¶ But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.”  We, as ladies, must pray for God to guide us into this perfect balance of beauty and modesty.

There are many people that focus on the LOVE OF CHRIST but fail to recognize the JUDGEMENT OF CHRIST on sin.  Yes, we try to be a very gracious, loving family towards others that do not believe exactly like us- as the Bible tells us to be.  1Co 13:4 ¶ “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Again, yes, to show the love of Christ to others is extremely important……..but the love of Christ does not mean that love is void of judgement.  If you love your children, you don’t NOT correct them for doing wrong for the fear that you may seem judgemental.  You are only trying to instruct them in the way of righteousness.  Yes, we have seen the struggle among believers to manage a healthy balance in this area.  It is either mean-spirited Christians or Christians that have become tolerant of sin that grieves a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God!  Where is that balance?  Show charity – YES! – but take a strong stand against sin.  (I think Ephesians chapter 4 is a great chapter regarding holding this good balance of taking a godly stand against sin, but doing so in the spirit of love.)

The list goes on in many areas where we can become imbalanced……………

~Eating like junk-food junkies  –  OR  – over-focusing on nutrition.  Mt 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  We should be wise stewards with what we put into these bodily vessels that God has given us, but we should not stress or over-focus on these things.

I’m sure as you ponder this thought, you can think of many scenarios that can lean towards an imbalance.  My challenge towards my children and to myself (smile) is to walk in balance.  I want people around me to be comfortable and sense my love for them, but I also want them to know exactly where I stand concerning sin.  I am certainly NOT above sin and I fall VERY short of being what I should be, but by God’s grace, I do strive to walk in balance before God and others.  We live in a day and age where we are wishy-washy in our beliefs.  I think of the good, old fashioned revivals of old that would sweep through this land. Unfortunately, those days are long past and we pray for their return.  It has been said of the modern day “Western” Christians, that we live an apathetic Christian life.  I am afraid this is true in many cases – resulting in the sad state of our Nation.  Again, I fail all the time, but my aim and goal is to be fervent for Christ  (Ro 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”).

I love you in the Lord and I hope you have a great day!!!

Just a Sinner Saved By Grace,   Jill Rodrigues