Over the years, we've had fences to protect our children and dogs, but also to provide varying degrees of privacy. We've had neighbors we didn't think could handle too much of our information and we've also had neighbors we could have ended up testifying in court about if we had known much more about them. Some of our neighbors have created their own little Edens behind privacy fences and some of them chose to ignore these fenced spaces until their unruly vines crawled over the fence into our yard. Privacy fences allow people options without inviting or offending the neighbors. "Good fences make good neighbors" is a proverb worth practicing.
What place do fences have in our relationships with God? Today's "Jesus Calling" devotional opens with a statement that, so to speak, puts the spiritual ball in our backyards: "You can live as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down the barriers that you erect."
Do we treat God like a neighbor we want to keep at a comfortable distance or as the indwelling Lord of our lives? Is He Someone we talk to over our protective "don't change me" fences or the God who decides when, where and how we live? Is He someone we invite over for a nice chat but with Whom we'd never spend an entire day? Someone we can go to when we need to borrow a cup of miracles or a first aid kit but Whom we tell to mind His own business when He meddles in our attitudes? God is like a good neighbor - there when we need Him, no matter how high we build our fences. He goes the second mile and is there no matter how tightly we close our eyes or how rebelliously we turn our backs to Him. He doesn't build fences or roll His eyes thinking we're wearing out His welcome mat. The next time we take a step back from Him, may He remind us He watched His Son die to remove every barrier between us
Father, how can You help but laugh (or cry?) when You see us nailing up quick privacy fences to hide from You? We act like children who cover their eyes and think no one can see them. Thank You for not only staying with us but for watching over us. We've had too many people "stay with us" who were like dead weight, draining us with their expectations and over-dependence. But You, Lord, You stay with us because You love us with Self-less love You give from Your glorious riches. When we invited Christ into our lives - You came to stay and You'll never leave us. Remove our fear of change as we learn to let go and let You live through us. We praise You that even our efforts to keep You at a distance don't hinder or lessen Your love for us. We're so easily offended when others push us away so help us remember Your feelings anytime we choose to shut You out of our lives.
In the name of Jesus, at Whose death Your hand ripped in half the veil hiding the Holy of Holies
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12
"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
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