Don’t Go Too Far
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.”
Exodus 8:26–28
When the plagues began to inflict serious hardship on Egypt, Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses. He would let the Israelites worship God, but he didn’t want them to leave the land. He offered Moses a compromise, insisting that the people “shall not go very far away.” This is an offer that Satan makes time and again to God’s people to try to derail them from effective service. He counsels us to serve God, but not to take things too far.
Christians who are on fire for God and are willing to commit their lives to His service will certainly be viewed as strange. If we truly believe what God says and act upon it with our whole hearts, it should not be surprising if the world thinks we have lost our minds. This was the experience Paul had when he was offered the opportunity to defend himself before a Roman governor. “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24).
God is worthy of our complete and total devotion and obedience. We are commanded to love Him above all else. We are called to give ourselves to His service, even to the point of laying down our lives if necessary. What God commands is never “too far.”
Exodus 8:26–28
When the plagues began to inflict serious hardship on Egypt, Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses. He would let the Israelites worship God, but he didn’t want them to leave the land. He offered Moses a compromise, insisting that the people “shall not go very far away.” This is an offer that Satan makes time and again to God’s people to try to derail them from effective service. He counsels us to serve God, but not to take things too far.
Christians who are on fire for God and are willing to commit their lives to His service will certainly be viewed as strange. If we truly believe what God says and act upon it with our whole hearts, it should not be surprising if the world thinks we have lost our minds. This was the experience Paul had when he was offered the opportunity to defend himself before a Roman governor. “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24).
God is worthy of our complete and total devotion and obedience. We are commanded to love Him above all else. We are called to give ourselves to His service, even to the point of laying down our lives if necessary. What God commands is never “too far.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
Do not listen to the voices that tempt you to offer half-hearted or partial service to God.
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