The opposite of abstain is to indulge, behold instead of walking away, and embrace instead of fleeing. 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A body of believers is as strong as its weakest member. 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For in fact the body is not one member but many.” When I broke my foot, it affected everything I did.

When a member of the body of believers indulges in sexual immorality, it affects everyone in the fellowship. Paul went on to exhort the believers in Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 says, “That no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.”

When I was a teen, we talked about knowing the will of God for our lives. It seemed to be something we had to figure out. Yet the Bible clearly defines what the will of God is. Here are two. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Proud folks are not thankful. 

1 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” In Matthew 15:19 there is a list of things that proceed out of our heart.

Also James 1:18 says, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

The moment we think that we are being humble ~ we aren’t. Unobtrusive means: not conspicuous or attracting attention. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Humility is a heart attitude that exemplifies itself through our inner character, tone of words, and body language. We never see a humble person with their nose in the air.

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about this. Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

Heart obedience exemplifies the Lord. Verse 8 says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself…”

Those who walk in heart obedience, walk under a canopy of grace. Heart obedience acknowledges Who is in charge. Paul saw himself as the Lord saw him ~ a bondservant of Christ. 

I had messaged a pastor in the Ukraine that I follow and pray for. I typed out my prayer. He immediately answered to pray for safety. He was traveling two hours to another city to hold an evangelism seminar. It had just begun to snow. Days before they were in white out blizzards. I again wrote out my prayer, but in it was “canopy of grace.” Those three words captured my heart as I had never heard them before.

We walk under a canopy of grace when we are living a lifestyle of humility. I really appreciate the way the Amplified says it. James 3:13 says, “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attribute) of true wisdom.” Wisdom from above is willing to yield. James 3:17.