No Restraint

“Cease and desist!”  A cease and desist letter is a document “demanding" a business or person halt unlawful activity (cease) and not take it up again later (desist).  Stop-it-right-now-and-don’t-do-it-again worked fairly well for rambunctious little boys … well, sometimes.

 

In order to follow God’s commands, Christians must practice restraint.  For example, the urge is quite strong to give-it-back to those who treat us badly but [as disciples of Christ] we are called to love our enemies instead – repaying them with kindness.  There are, however, areas where restraint is not necessary: “I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your Salvation; I have not concealed Your steadfast Love and Your faithfulness from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:9-10).  Don’t you picture someone who is just bubbling-to-overflowing, telling anyone who will listen about the greatness of God!  And how does God respond to such lack of restraint?  “As for You, O LORD, You will not restrain Your mercy from me; Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (V.11).  The Child of God who holds nothing back about his God is rewarded with an unrestrained God – Who pours out even more mercy-love-faithfulness!  Wow!  So, what’s stopping you this day from telling the world about our awesome God – He Who sent His own Son to pay your sin debt – Who redeemed your soul – Whose emptied tomb is a symbol of Hope in a hopeless world – Who’s promised you an eternal home for your soul – Who’s coming again to claim you and take you to your live with Him forever?  Hallelujah – let there be no restraint in declaring God’s Goodness!