Submitted
by Lara Cook
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came
that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Boundaries provide a dividing line, a border. Boundaries can be limiting, or they can
protect us, it is all a matter of how you look at it. Rules are usually there to protect us and boundaries
are like rules. God gives us a guidebook
in the Bible to help us follow the rules, or stay inside the boundaries. If we stay within the boundaries He gives us,
we will have a more abundant life. Some
people view these limits as confining.
These people have obviously not known the confines of sin and living in
the shackles of shame. Jesus makes it
clear it is not His intention to confine us to a boing life of living by His
“rules”. He tells us He has come so that
we can have life and have it more abundantly.
Out of Bounds
The definition of out of bounds is: 1. Being beyond or passing the limits or
boundaries of a field, course, etc., marking the area within which the ball,
puck, or the like is legally in play; 2. Beyond any established boundaries or
prescribed limits; prohibited; forbidden. 3. Further than or beyond established
limits, as of behavior or thought.
If you take this definition and apply it to the Christian life, it
speaks volumes. When we are “out of
bounds” in our Christian walk, we have crossed the line. When we get outside the lines of God’s will
and protection, we are in dangerous territory, although it may not feel
dangerous. We are distracted, just like a
little girl walking in the woods who is looking at all the animals, picking
flowers, not paying attention and before she knows it, she is lost and it is
dark. We can get distracted in our sin
like that and suddenly we find ourselves in a really bad place that is very
hard to get out of. It is far better not
to go there in the first place. Stepping
outside the bounds will make you lose your focus and forget where you are just
long enough for Satan to pull you even further.
Now he has you right where he wants you, outside of God’s will and
protection.
Most of the time
we think of boundaries as keeping something out but God’s boundaries for us are
designed to keep us in – inside His will and protection. The river flows with the banks as its
boundaries. If you want the refreshment
of the river, you have to stay in the river.
If you are on the banks or in the woods, you won’t get the refreshment of
the river. All God’s blessings come
within the boundaries He has set. We
have to stay in the river of His grace to receive them. There is nothing truly worthwhile or
beneficial to gain outside His boundaries, but everything to lose.
God uses boundaries
to protect us, not inhibit us. There is
nothing more freeing than having the shackles of sin removed by God and living
inside His will. True abundant life is
not living wildly, doing anything we want to regardless of others or
consequences. True abundant life is
found in the security of the boundaries of God’s love and protection. There we are secure to live freely and grow
in Christ. There we can experience a
close personal relationship with God that is more satisfying than anything
outside His plan for us.
Scripture to Claim:
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
