April 14

The Power of Boundaries

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ––Romans 5:1

Establishing boundaries is a discipline. To this end, Oswald Chambers once commented, “Impulse is alright in a child, but it is disastrous in a man. Impulse has to be trained into intuition by discipline.”

The things men tend to resist the most—limits, boundaries, rules, and restrictions—are the very things we need the most in order to experience freedom. This sounds like a paradox, but it’s true. Resisting is like trying to jump the fence but not realizing that the Grand Canyon waits on the other side. We will never know the terrors we have escaped when we find the true freedom inside God’s boundaries. As Paul told the church at Corinth:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”     ––1 Corinthians 10:13

When we understand that true freedom requires restraint, we will see this scripture in a new light. God doesn’t establish boundaries just to see if we can be good and follow the rules. He gave us boundaries to keep us and our loved ones safe from moral and spiritual failure and to make us good and faithful husbands, dads, and men of God. He puts them there to help us experience the truly abundant life Jesus came to give. And He always provides a solution to our temptation—a way out—if we lean into Him in times of temptation.

The tragedy of ignoring boundaries? Solomon nails it: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Proverbs 25:28, ESV).

Good boundaries help us finish the course; they are the walls of our spiritual structure and foundation. They clarify our convictions and provide us with clear moral direction by assigning a healthy, predetermined path when tempting situations arise. They draw the florescent lines that we will not cross because of our love for Christ and our desire to see His plan realized in all areas of our lives.

Thank you, Father, for allowing me to set my boundaries within Your love.

__________________________
https://utmost.org/oswald-chambers-bio/