Matthew 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words,
when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Beloved, today, in the spirit of reflection and guidance, I
invite your hearts and minds to ponder on a subject that is often challenging,
yet undeniably paramount in our walk of faith – the notion of 'Walking Away.'
Yes, you heard that right, walking away, not in defeat or cowardice, but with
grace, courage, and a solidified faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We may wonder, isn't our purpose to remain steadfast,
resilient, to face every tribulation head-on? Absolutely so! We, as Christians,
are indeed called to be persistent warriors. Yet, there are instances,
situations or people from which we must consider walking away to protect our
peace, our faith and our relationship with God.
Take a moment to reflect on the life of our Saviour, Jesus
Christ. Even He, in His infinite wisdom and grace, knew when it was time to
turn the other way. Remember when He was presented with temptations by the
devil himself in the wilderness? Jesus did not engage in a prolonged argument
or a physical battle; He simply rebuked Satan with the Word of God and walked
away (Matthew 4:1-11). This teaches us a profound lesson in discernment and
spiritual warfare – that sometimes, victory does not always mean fighting; it
can also mean knowing when to walk away.
There are relationships, environments, and situations in our
lives that, over time, become toxic or spiritually draining. It could be a job
that demands unethical practices, a friendship that consistently tears you
down, a lifestyle habit that slowly eats away at your spiritual health. At
times, the brave decision is not to put up with it, but to walk away from it.
Consider the Apostle Paul’s wisdom in 2 Timothy 2:22: "Flee
the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Notice
that word 'flee.' It does not suggest casual walking, but running away swiftly.
It commands urgency!
As Christians, we are called to guard our hearts (Proverbs
4:23), and sometimes this might require us to walk away from temptations or
anything that can damage our relationship with God. But let us remember,
walking away does not imply abandonment, as we do not journey alone. We walk
away with God, in the grace and refuge of His comforting presence.
This is not an encouragement towards selfishness or
disregard for others. Instead, it's a call towards self-preservation for the
sake of preserving our faith, our divine calling, and our relationship with
Jesus Christ. Our walk with God, you see, often requires us to walk away from
certain aspects of the world.
However, as you choose to walk away, do so not with
bitterness or resentment, but with forgiveness and grace. Remember the words of
Ephesians 4:31-32, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
In closing, I pray God gives each of us the wisdom to know when to stand firm and when to walk away, the courage to take steps towards or away, and the faith to trust His direction. May God's peace, grace, and love guide your steps in all walks of life.