For our good

Neither the sheep nor the goat can understand why we have restraints on their behavior.

Whether it be the pen in the barn or the fence in the field, the boundaries we set for them isn’t what they’d prefer.

They cannot comprehend it is all for their good.

The boundaries keep them safe from predators, cuts access to the road, and protects them from over eating the grain.

It’s easy for us to chafe at God’s boundaries, too.

Our God loves us and is a good Father.

He has given us His Word to instruct us.

Giving us boundaries for our lives is God’s protection from harm.

And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. Deuteronomy 6:24 KJV

Yet, mankind is rebellious and often our foolishness leads us into pain and suffering where the first thing we do is look at God and ask: “Why did You let this happen?!”.

Ahh, if only we had applied the commandments of the Lord and humbled ourselves before Him.

Praise God, He is merciful and compassionate.

He understands our wayward tendencies far better than we do.

That is why Jesus died and rose again; to make a way for us to be saved.

It’s a wonderful gift, for those who believe on Christ Jesus.

We have eternal salvation, as well as redemption here on Earth, for Jesus gave us His Word to instruct our wayward hearts, that we might know those things which are right and good.

Although, the New Testament is full of practical truths, after the Passover Supper Jesus’s last instructions before He was to be taken into custody are profound.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15 KJV (The whole chapter is excellent.)

Let each of us choose to love the Lord Jesus with all our hearts and walk in His commandments, for God gave them to us,

“for our good always,”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your boundaries, Your instructions, Your commandments. Lord, please help us to remember they are for our good. That You know what is best and following Your laws brings us blessings. Lord, please help us to remember that chosing rebellion is choosing heartache, suffering, and tragedy. Sin separates us from You and only in You do we find love, patience, peace, goodness, faithfulness, and selfcontrol. Lord God, You alone are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. I praise Your holy name, Jesus! Amen.

Fences

Fences are very important.

When you have livestock, they are a must.

We have a perimeter fence to mark where our property lies.

We have a tall fence around our garden.

Our chickens have a run which is entirely enclosed.

All these fences are not to keep our stock or veggies from going where we don’t want them, although that is important too.

They are to keep danger out.

Many wild animals would like a chicken, rabbit, lamb or goat dinner, not to mention those herbivores who would gladly decimate our vegetable garden.

Boundaries are important in more than just farmlife.

A playground sitting between a busy street and a large parking lot should have some boundary to keep the children safe.

Even in baseball there is a large fence to protect the fans from foul balls.

God understands the need for boundaries in our lives.

He gave us 10 of them.

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Exodus 20:1‭-‬3‭, ‬7‭-‬8‭, ‬12‭-‬17 KJV

See also:
Deuteronomy 5:6‭-‬21 KJV

He also gave us the entirety of scripture to teach us our need for Him to help us apply His boundaries, understanding that we easily misinterpret His Word.

For we cannot follow these Ten Commandments without Him, as the Old Testament clearly reveals.

But for those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus, He grants us forgiveness of sins and insight into His design for our lives.

For it is through the leading of the Holy Spirit that we can first realize the importance of His boundaries and secondly, learn to walk within the safety they provide.

Thus, we should acknowledge that which our rebellious flesh would label as “hindering us” is in reality that which is designed to help us.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You specifically for Your boundaries in my life. Lord, as I continue in this journey, I thank You for all Your faithful teaching and I look forward to what You have for me in today. Lord, please continue to open my mind to understanding Your Word and the boundaries You have set that I might be saved from the dangers of sin and the rebellion of my own flesh. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your protection. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Leading with love

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Matthew 5:43 NKJV

Indeed, it has been said throughout history.

And it makes sense to the hurting heart.

Especially, if one’s enemy is out to kill.

But God requires something far more difficult.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:44‭-‬45 NKJV

To love one’s enemy is truly beyond anything our nature would come up with.

Praying for one’s enemy doesn’t consist of selfish prayers.

Instead, we are to pray for others with the love God showed us.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NKJV

Loving others doesn’t mean you have removed all boundaries.

In fact God’s Word is full of boundaries.

Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
Proverbs 22:24‭-‬25 NKJV

Proverbs 13:20 KJV — He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.
Psalms 26:3‭-‬5 NKJV

It is love that sets boundaries in place and realizes that boundaries are healthy and important.

But these boundaries have to be set up in accordance to God’s Word.

Love’s boundaries are written down for us.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there  are prophecies, they will fail; whether there  are tongues, they will cease; whether there  is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
I Corinthians 13:4‭-‬10 NKJV

Jesus warned the disciples what they were going to encounter and gave them direction.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16 NKJV

(Read the remaining chapter and look at the book of Acts. Jesus was giving them a glimpse into the future.)

Leading with love understands that true love comes from God.

Therefore, to be able to love our enemies we must understand God’s love, to look at life’s circumstances through God’s Word, to apply the boundaries of life to our own.

Leading with love means our perspective is bent through the lense of Scripture.

It also means loving God first and best.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for teaching us how to love. Thank You for loving us first. Lord, it is completely counter to our feelings to love our enemies. At times hurt, pain, suffering is overwhelming and distorts our perspective. Lord, please fill our hearts with Your love and Your Word. Please help us to watch carefully over our hearts that we not allow bitterness to dwell there. Lord Jesus, please open our minds to learning from Your Word the way to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. For only in You can we find these things. Lord, Your ways are perfect and we want to walk in them. Please help us to do so. Thank You. Amen.