Title

Restricted By Affections

Scripture
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
(2 Corinthians 6:12)
Devotional
What are the emotions that hinder you? Are they fears, doubts, anxieties, animosities? To whom or what are these negative subjective thoughts aimed? Who or what do you blame for your failures? We are seldom restricted from the outside. The greatest majority of our restrictions come from the area between our ears. We attempt to justify our actions, or should I say our lack of actions by our emotions. We conclude that since I feel this way I must be right. We must learn to turn our affections from ourselves to Christ and the endeavors to which He has called us. We more than often begin well, but sooner or later because of our inordinate affections we look for someone or something to blame. The apostle Paul asked the Galatians, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (1) The answer for most of us is “ourselves.”

(1) Galatians 5:7
Thought For The Night
“There is a false boldness for Christ that only comes from pride. A man may rashly expose himself to the world’s dislike and even deliberately provoke its displeasure, and yet do so out of pride. ...True boldness for Christ transcends all, it is indifferent to the displeasure of either friends or foes. Boldness enables Christians to forsake all rather than Christ, and to prefer to offend all rather than to offend Him.” Jonathan Edward, (1745–1801), one of the most significant religious thinkers in American.
Evening Text
2 Corinthians 6:12: You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
Looking for Answers
 
Evening Study Guide
Defining: “Affections”: Literarily, “inward parts,” sentimental emotions—in the good sense, “tender mercies,” in the negative sense, disregarding truth for feelings.
 
Referencing: “God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:8.
 
Applying: Make sure that your affections are the “tender mercies” of Christ, and not the self-centered emotions of man.