There have been times in my walk with Christ when He has called me to remain silent in the midst of a surrounding onslaught. When I’ve been fully aware of actions but His word to me was, “silence.”

There will be many times when you’ll have to choose to respond in anger or remain silent in this life.

It reminds me of when Jesus said not a word after being betrayed and being led to the cross.

Some of the things I most regret are times in the past where I allowed anger a voice. Not righteous anger but a hellish one. When wounding and feelings of pain took over and caused me to allow reactions and responses that ended up costing me greatly.

Those are times you do not always recover from. While forgiveness can be had, there is no guarantee that trust or relationship will be restored. Although, I have had God give me added grace when I went the extra mile to make a thing right.

That being said, there is also a time when Jesus in no way will allow a thing to continue in unrighteousness. In the church today we tend to lean towards a grace and love that seems not to call for repentance. So we unknowingly enable sin. Jesus is dealing with this today to raise warriors who turn no blind eye to sin but reckon with it head-on.

I saw this today as I was reading in Nehemiah. He had left for a time the city but when he returned a deceiver and betrayer (Tobiah) had been found making himself at home within the very walls Nehemiah was called to rebuild. The enemy was literally in the camp.

You don’t see Nehemiah negotiating with him, kindly letting him stay, or allowing him to continue to try to deceive him with false reports or flattering tongues of deception.

In this instance, Nehemiah grabbed the trespasser and his belongings and tossed them both out.

There does come a time when Jesus sees that the enemy has made headway into a heart and it might cost severely the Kingdom work and those involved.

In this case, He will protect the work and you’ll be called to a “divine release.”

In other words, the door must now be shut because repentance has not taken place and a spirit of deception is now in charge. Lies and deceit will be allowed no seat at the table any longer.

This is why it is so important to stay pressed into the heart of God. Every circumstance is unique and we must have His nod one way or another.

Nehemiah fielded many reports that seemed for his good but were full of secret deception and hidden conspiracy. However, He had keen discernment to know truth with God’s help.

l’ll tell you this. Jesus does have, very often, a line that if once crossed it is finished and consequences will ensue.

None of us are immune to this kind of chastening.

Close whatever doors are necessary to guard your heart, remain at peace, and honor Christ through a holy and righteous work.