In Matthew 8:2(NLT), a leper came and worshiped Jesus Christ and said to him, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus told the man that he was willing and then he healed him. He then said to the man in Matthew 8:4(NLT), “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you.” Our Lord and Savior came to the earth to carry out God’s mission. He had much work to do, and a short time in which to do it. In other instances of healing and delivering people, he would also tell them not to mention the occasion of his miraculous work. God’s timing for all that needed to be done to fulfill His purpose was the primary focus, and our Master Jesus was careful not to do anything that would hinder this from moving forward according to the Father’s Will and plan. From this, we must understand that there are times in our lives and in our relationships that we need to keep matters quiet. We must not hinder the work that God wants to do in us, our partners, and the relationship as well.
Over the years, I’ve learned to keep certain aspects of my personal life quiet. I follow the Lord, and only speak those things He allows me to share. I learned the hard way that when we get ahead of God in our relationships, they can take a turn for the worse so quickly that we’re left bewildered and heartbroken. We must settle into the truth that God is the One who sets the pace of things for relationships that lead to marriage, and we can miss out if we attempt to move too quickly.
God reminds us that we belong to Him. We’re His children of the light, and we don’t belong to darkness. In 1Thessalonians 5:6(NLT), He warns, “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” Being on guard and staying alert and clearheaded are the mark of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who honor God’s Word. This alertness is required when we meet someone new as well. We can’t be undisciplined and let our emotions rule our decisions and choices. Even when God gives us the green light that we’ve indeed met the man He has ordained to walk with us through life, we still must be careful that our excitement over the man doesn’t cause us to lose focus on our relationship with Heavenly Father.
The Lord also warns us in 1Peter 5:8(NLT), “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” We can’t forget that we have an enemy, the devil, and he prowls around looking for an opportunity to spoil, steal, and destroy our blessings. We forget this so quickly when we meet someone new, but we must reign ourselves in. God wants us to live a more than abundant life. He has provided the wisdom of His Word to help us live a life that’s covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. The world can’t teach us how to live holy and secure. Only God’s Word can do this. Instead of sanctity and honor, the world teaches people not to hold anything sacred anymore. Everything is shared on social media, and people become convinced that everything is meant to be shared, but this isn’t true, and it’s not using the wisdom of God.
God tells us in Hebrews 13:4 that a marriage should be held in honor. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of the blessing of a meaningful relationship. We must partner with the Lord to nurture it and make it strong. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there’s a way that seems right to us, but that way will lead to destruction. Putting out the details of our relationships for public consumption can often be an invitation for the enemy to attack it. So, let’s not take chances or make decisions that will hinder our blessings. Let’s be quiet about certain things in our relationships so that we preserve what the Lord is doing to make them lasting and strong. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Shhh, Learn How to Keep It Quiet”, written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and K. Stephens for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!