Thursday, July 6, 2017

Boundary Lines

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors."  Proverbs 22:28



Do you know where the boundary lines are on your property?

I'll bet you do! I'll bet that is important for you - and it should be!

It is equally important that your neighbors know where those boundary lines are as well!

You don't want them building something too near your property line!


With that though in mind, imagine what it would be like if your boundary lines were being changed occasionally. One day your boundary line is in its traditional and legal place, but the next day it is two feet inside that place. Then, a week later it is four feet outside of that line. After a month or so you have lost track of where it actually is because it has been changing so often.

That would take the joy out of owning your property and it would strain your friendship with your neighbor.

This simple little illustration emphasizes how important clear and consistent boundary lines are!

A wise man understands that. The foolish person is led to believe that freedom is the result of removing all boundaries.

Have you been tempted to think that way?

If so, think again!

Freedom is only found within the boundaries of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For within those boundaries is forgiveness, the freedom from guilt! And within those boundaries is cleansing from sin and freedom from shame! Within those boundaries is peace and freedom from condemnation!

Are you longing to be free?

Freedom is found at the boundary line of faith!

July 6, 2017

"But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.  Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:12-14

When God’s Word gets welcomed and becomes active in your life, it convicts you of sin and leads you into His will. When He uses His Word to work His will in your life, look what thrilling things happen through you.

Verse 12 – "FREEDOM FROM FALSE GUILT" – That’s thrilling! False guilt is from the Enemy of your soul. He is the "accuser". He will dig up things from your past that God has already forgiven and remind you of them to discourage you and defeat you. But through the Word, God's Spirit will remind you that you have been forgiven and He will make you aware of any unconfessed sins so you can find forgiveness for those as well.

Guilt is a good thing that the Holy Spirit uses to point out a sin that you have committed. But false guilt is not good and is used by the devil to defeat you.

Verse 13 – "FREEDOM FROM WILLFUL SIN" – “blameless” – pure in thoughts and motives. Sin is what happens when you exercise your will against God. For instance, you know that something is wrong. The Word of God says it is wrong and the Holy Spirit tells you it is wrong but you willfully decide to do it anyway. That is willful sin and it is dangerous because it is rebellion against God by after you have committed to follow Him.

Followers of Christ will sin occasionally, but they should not willfully sin. They may get caught up in a moment of anger or a moment of thoughtlessness and sin against God - but to deliberately sin against Him is something Christians should not and need not do.

When the Word is active in your life and you are aligned with His will you can be blameless - free from intentional sin!

Verse 14 – "PLEASING TO GOD" – If there is anyone that you would want to please it would be God! And if there is someone you don't want to displease it would also be God! To know that you are obeying God's Word and to know His will is being accomplished in your life and that He is pleased with you - that’s thrilling! When you see God using you to bless someone else or to inspire them and you are aware that it is His power at work in your - that is praiseworthy!

The Psalmist rejoiced in God's work of righteousness being accomplished in him through the Word. As he meditated on the grace of God at work in him it inspired him to offer praises to God.

What praiseworthy thing is God doing in you?

Are you praising Him?