Ironic isn’t it, that one of the first words a toddler learns to say is, “No!” Not only does that little one say the word, but he/she says it empathically. As time moves on that child soon learns that their life is much more fulfilled when they play or socialize with others. Not many years later the child makes friends and peer pressure sets in. This phenomenon continues the rest of his/her life. Saying, “No” becomes hard to say when the rest of the crowd of friends pressure them into doing something they feel they should not do.
When you factor in one’s spiritual life into the peer pressure, especially with carnal Christians or unbelievers, living a Spirit-filled life can be challenging at best. I sure do like the way one unknown writer stated the way to live totally sold out for Christ daily, “My love for the Lord is not measured by the things I am willing to do for Him—but the things I am not willing to do for Him.” That sentence fairly well summarized what the Christian means when he/she calls themselves a mature Christian.
What are you willing to give up that will bring you closer to the Lord Jesus? It may very well be nothing that is sinful, but could be something the Lord is talking to you about. Giving it up may be just the thing that is keeping you from a closer walk with Jesus.
Scripture talks about growing closer to Jesus, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Yes, this verse is mainly talking about a new believer, but what is true of a new believer is also true of a mature believer; that is to “walk in newness of life.” That requires saying, “No!” to anything that detracts a believer from an intimate walk with Jesus Christ.
Often times for a believer to walk closer to his/her Lord they must learn to say, “No!” even to something good!
