1 Peter 1:15,16 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy”.
I am a mom of two sons. I grew up as an only child to my parents and my parents were pretty strict who restricted me from doing any fun stuff that the other kids got to do. I never got to go on school trips. I always had to braid my hair and never allowed to have any stylish hairstyles like other kids. Like keeping candy off kids, I was kept off from anything fun. I did have bitterness towards my parents. I didn’t want my kids to have the same kind of childhood. So, YES, I did take my kids for trick or treat in the neighborhood. And we did give candies to kids who came to our door. But, in my heart, I always felt like it was a very wrong thing to do as it is clearly such a demonic activity. I still took my kids year after year, but repenting my heart out to God each time as I walked with them in the neighborhood. I knew that I was doing a very sinful thing but along with repentance each year, I justified it saying to God about my childhood and how I did not want my kids to miss out on the fun. I think the heaviness of having to repent repeatedly for the same things when we commit it knowingly becomes huge to bear.
So in the initial years, it was just a slight uneasy feeling of doing wrong. But starting around 2018, God started working in me. He started breaking unwanted things in me, moulding me, refining me like silver or gold through fire. He is faithful God who gently fixes us one thing at a time. Where we deserve punishment, He shows grace and baffles us. He binds us captive by His grace that we overflow with gratitude, for we know what kind of severe punishment we deserved. I started understanding that a believer in Christ cannot live however their heart pleases. We are called to be set apart, a royal priesthood. And I firmly took a stand that I will no longer take my kids for trick or treat. My young son did feel disappointed because he loved to run to houses with his friends. I explained to them that as Christians we should learn and practice to sacrifice our desires and will and that we need to learn not to compromise God’s values. As they were still kids, I did offer to buy a bag of candy for them. They are to be content with that bag of candy. He agreed to it though he did want to go trick or treat. I am grateful for my kids who obeyed me even when it wasn’t easy for their age. To avoid kids from ringing the door bell, I put a note outside which said ‘NO HALLOWEEN HERE’. And not a kid rang the doorbell. I felt such a relief that year that I did not have to repent for this. Also, I understood at that moment that taking a stand for God is not that hard as we would assume. It gets easier once we set our heart like Daniel did. It gets easier once God’s way alone becomes our priority. Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
As Jehovah God set down His plan of deliverance for His children, the Israelites, from the nation Egypt where they were slaves, He sent 10 plagues upon the Egyptians. He set apart the Israelites. Though the entire nation of Egypt paid a huge price for 10 plagues, not an Israelite in that nation was impacted. As the tenth plague which would set the stage for the deliverance of Israelites out of captivity, God instructed the Israelites to do certain things. Exodus 12th chapter – He commanded them to take a male lamb of one year old and without any blemish. At the twilight, each Israelite family is to kill the lamb, take its blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of their houses. The LORD said that He will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you(Israelites) are; And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Every single family in Egypt were burying their first born – be it the father of the family who was a first born, or the mother, or the first born child and the first born of their animals. Can we imagine the number of burials that would have happened in each family in that age of time? All because of what? The living God who had the capability to strike the life out of them were not on their side to command them to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doorpost – the lamb later demonstrating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All because of the missing blood on the doorpost. Jesus has shed His precious and Holy blood. We are to be set apart from the world. We all tend to justify saying “Oh, it is just candy! Oh, it is just this and that!”. Satan’s snares are known to be subtle. He doesn’t come and stand before us in a red jumpsuit and pitchfork. His snares comes as subtle as “It is just a fruit! No big deal. See, how pleasant it is for your eyes!”. And here we are today. There is no middle ground in our choices. We either take one decision closer towards God or towards the devil. The choice is given in our hands though!
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
