Freedom in Boundaries
Posted by Karah
Pause
Consider this quote from Ravi Zacharias to begin your quiet time:
“Pleasure without God, without the sacred boundaries, will actually leave you emptier than before.”
Think about your favorite sport. What are the boundaries or rules of that sport? What would it be like if there were no boundaries? Jot down a few ideas.
Life also has boundaries. Read Genesis 2:8-17. As you read, look for the boundary God laid out for Adam and Eve. Underline it when you find it.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” —Genesis 2:15-17
Everything God created had boundaries: night, day, land, sea. God’s good boundaries insured that each part of His creation would fulfill the purpose He intended. Humans were the only ones capable of crossing the boundaries God had set for them.
Why do we push against boundaries? When have you pushed against God’s boundaries?
Read Genesis 3:1 carefully. Compare Satan’s question to what God really said in Genesis 2. How did Satan twist God’s words and plant doubt about God’s goodness and provision in Eve’s mind?
How is Satan’s question meant to destroy the good God had created?
The Point
God created a world of boundaries meant to bring Him glory. But we chose to push against those boundaries.
Respond
To cross the boundaries God has set is sin. Think about clear boundaries God has set for His children in Scripture. Are you living in accordance? Confess any ways you are living outside of God’s plan and seek His forgiveness.
Eve became vulnerable to sin when she doubted God’s goodness and provision. What blessings of God do you see in your life today? How has He generously provided for you? Take the time to praise Him!
Behind the Story
The fact that God placed Adam and Eve in a garden is important. A gardener purposely plants and protects his garden. Without the gardener’s protection, the fruit or crops wouldn’t be free to grow to their maximum potential. God’s boundaries in the garden of Eden were intended by God to protect humanity and give us freedom to grow unhindered to our full potential.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions