Boxed-in

The woman had been crippled for eighteen years. Although her bones were fused together, her destiny was not bound to immobility. Jesus touched her and as that once rigidly fixed body straightened, her whole life began to expand in new dimensions of freedom. Ah, but it was the Sabbath. Rigidity of another kind surfaced. The Pharisees hated what they saw. Their bones of legalism merged together so tightly that they allowed no movement in their view of God…or man.

Although we disdain the mindset of the Pharisees, I must ask myself how many “boxed-in” perspectives I allow to cripple me. I am apt to box-in myself. I’ll never measure up. If I’m not careful my intricately constructed limitations become self-fulfilling prophecies.

Boxing-in of others may be subtler, but no less devastating. How often do we bind people to their weaknesses? Sometimes even after they’ve apologized, we persist in confining them to old patterns by our expectations.

Of course, none of these situations would occur if it weren’t for the gravest “boxed-in” breach of all. We box-in God. It’s probably due to our vain attempts to maintain control. We feel safer if we make him predictable, manageable. We take a God whose love extends beyond the wildest of dreams, whose power, knowledge and wisdom surpasses the deepest of earthly understanding and try to squeeze him into our puny framework. Just like the Pharisees.

But like the woman Jesus healed, we don’t have to remain confined to our crippling views. His touch will liberate us again…and again…and again. His ways are so much higher than ours that he can even cause us to love our fellow Pharisees.

Lord Jesus, please protect us from falling into the Pharisee camp. Help us see when we’re boxing in ourselves, others or you. You never boxed-in anyone and we don’t want to either.

Throughout This Day: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you might box in yourself, others or God. If he reveals some area, confess it and ask for the Holy Spirit to help you see and cooperate with where he is working.