So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. — Romans 13:12b-14
So far we have looked at three ways to choose good spiritual food. First was repentance, clearing your plates of sin quickly. Then we looked at changing your taste buds through fasting. And yesterday we looked at how behavior follows belief, so if you love God with everything you have, you will naturally put things on your plate that line up with that.
Today we are looking at setting boundaries on behavior. We all set boundaries. If you are a parent, your young child most likely has a set bedtime. You probably set limits on the amount of sweets your child has. A five-year-old who has unlimited access to candy and is allowed to stay up until midnight is going to be grumpy the next morning. So while they may throw tantrums to get you to give them what they want, you know the boundaries are for their own good.
Adults have to set their own boundaries. No one is looking over your shoulder. When you do not set limits on your energy, it becomes evident quickly. You may need to burn the midnight oil now and then, but consistently staying up until 3am to watch movies if you have to be at work by 6am is going to burn you out. Therefore, you probably have set a bedtime for yourself.
Do you set boundaries with yourself based on what scripture says is right and wrong? Do you avoid things that you are technically free to do, but God says no? Some of those are listed in our scripture above, but the Bible is full of examples of limits God has set on us for our own good. Ultimately, you choose what to put on your spiritual plate. What choices are you making? Are you taking big helpings of things the world says will satisfy you, or are you filling up on what God offers?
To Think/Pray About Today
What boundaries do you need to set with yourself? What are you indulging in that God says not to?
Prayer Focus: Second Act Thrift Shoppe
Cedarville United Presbyterian Church 