Broken Cisterns

Have you forsaken

the living water to hew

a broken cistern?

-Jeremiah 2:13

A cistern you hew yourself let's you off the hook in areas you need the most accountability. This is one reason too many of God's people have loosened their grip on Him. Restrictions never seem fun to the one being restricted. However, God's restrictions are always for our good. For example:

· Don't gossip. If you find yourself asking Did you hear what happened to so-and-so? and the answer isn't They won the lottery! it may be time for an oral checkup.  Does your speech plant good or bad seeds? How about your tone? There’s a tone that plants suggestions and invites questions from the listener. We need to curb that. It most often leads to sharing too much. Make sure the words you speak and the tone you use communicate a Philippians 4:8 message to and about others.

· No sex outside marriage. "Are you married?" is a yes or no question…just like "Are you pregnant?" Any answer that isn't an unqualified "yes" is a "no." I'm a private, polite person, but I must be blunt. Getting engaged does not make it easier to stay pure. It becomes more challenging because you KNOW they're the one...but they aren't yet. Not every engagement ends in marriage. I've seen too many born-again, Spirit-filled couples walk down the aisle with a baby on the way because of that one time. Sex is like a fire in your living room. If it's not in the fireplace it will burn your house down. Don't light fires on the sofa...or in the car.

If you fall down, don't stay down. It's interesting that people who would NEVER cross the line in one of these areas may be very likely to cross the line in the other. God is ready to forgive. He doesn't hold grudges. He believes the best about you. He affirms your future!

Jesus summed up all the restrictions of the Bible (also known as the Law) with a simple proactive statement: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. I believe the best about those I love. I look out for their best interest. That’s how God is and we should reflect that to everyone we meet.

Apply God's word to every area of your life. What parts of the Bible make you feel like you are in the hot seat? Those are the areas that produce the sweetest fruit if you submit to God’s restrictions. You have great promise. Don't waste it at a broken cistern. Run to the living Fountain! Isaiah 41:17, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 12