Boundaries.

Thursday, November 10, 2011
Boundaries. Today I’m speaking at one of our junior high schools during an abstinence workshop. I’ll be spending the day in 7th grade health classes speaking on the topic of “Boundaries.” There are some common misconceptions about this idea of boundaries, though.
Many people think that when I bring up boundaries that I’m automatically limiting their freedom. They begin to think that I’m some type of legalist that wants to take all the fun out of their life in every way. We associate boundaries with fences, and we view them as holding us back and keeping us in. But boundaries are so much more than that.
There are boundaries on the roadways, aren’t there? Surely no one complains that there are lines on the highway, telling us where to keep our car? Hopefully we all understand that those boundaries protect us – they keep us from driving off a cliff or over into oncoming traffic! Those boundaries are there to protect us.
It’s much like my new adopted dogs. They live inside a fenced in area, and for good reason. They’ve lived in the city all their lives (8 years thus far), and they’ve never lived in the country. Where I live there are dangers that they didn’t contend with in their fenced in back yard in the city. If they were to be running out of the fenced area out in the country, there’s no telling what dangers and risks they would encounter that they wouldn’t be prepared to handle.
And so it is with life. With school students we speak of boundaries in dating, specifically. We tell them where to draw lines and limits, with the main goal of helping them see that boundaries protect them from facing temptations that they need to avoid as much as possible. The truth is, however, that we all need to practice the placement of boundaries in our lives.
Regardless of our age, there are some places we have no business going, and there are some things we have no business doing. If you belong to Christ, your boundaries should be especially firm and clear, because wherever you go you wear the name of Christ there.
Boundaries matter, and they are important. Take some time today and consider some positive boundaries for your life. Think through some areas that you face the most temptation in, and ask God to show you where He wants your boundaries drawn to illuminate as much unneeded temptation as possible. Draw yourselves some lines that will help you stay focused on life’s most important goal: drawing closer to the God that gave His only Son to break down the boundaries and barriers that existed between us and Him!



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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