Keep me from evil
God has set His boundary line around each individual. This could be related to the boundaries of houses or traffic lanes on the roads. Stepping beyond that boundary means stepping into your neighbour’s territory. It amounts to trespassing or transgressing and that is sin. Sin is evil. The consequence of evil is pain. God’s boundary lines are the laws of love and He maintains the boundaries of each individual. We are not to encroach the territory of another person, materially, physically, emotionally or spiritually to harm him. or her. This is the gist of the last 6 commandments.
Exodus 20:12-17 (NKJV)
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
There is evil outside the boundary. The devil ensnares us into crossing the boundary lines. He tempted Eve to eat the fruit forbidden by God. Boundary is set to protect us from danger. The Fox Glacier in New Zealand is a very beautiful sight but ropes demarcate a boundary, crossing which, can be extremely dangerous! Thousands of visitors jump over the ropes disregarding the DANGER sign, to take photographs standing close to the glacier. Two young brothers did the same when the great glacier happened to crash down on them. The unfortunate parents were bereaved of their only two precious sons on that day! The warning is clear. DON”T CROSS THE BOUNDARY! The word ‘Cancer’ makes anyone react, because of the devastation it can cause in the body. It is triggered off by one cell, which for some reason decides to grow and multiply beyond its boundary!
Pride
I
Rebellion _ O _Transgression
I Oppression
V
Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
James 1:13-15 (NKJV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
God takes the responsibility to bless, provide for and protect within His territory of each person and also maintains it. There is peace and rest within this boundary. The Lord judges here between people.
Around midnight, a few years ago, thieves invaded our home, took the car key and drove away in the sports car that belonged to our son. Being far away from home at that time, my husband and I were shaken by the news. Imagine thieves inside the house where your children are asleep! The Lord was in control and He gave us peace. He had put a boundary line around the children which the thieves couldn’t cross. The car was of course outside the boundary because it wasn’t meant for us!
Psalms 16:5-6 (NKJV)
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Psalms 121:7 (NKJV)
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
Psalms 147:12-14 (NKJV)
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat.
Falling short of God’s boundary is also sin. Neglecting my duty towards others means not matching up to God’s plan for me. God’s love released through my life is the reflection of His glory. I need to diligently take responsibility to wisely do all that God expects me to do, within the area of authority He has given me. Therefore I need to clearly know the boundary God has set for me. I learn this from my map book, the Bible. I am led in this path by the GPS - Gentle Promptings of the Spirit!!
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
My life is like a child painting to fill in a square. I leave patches unpainted and I paint beyond the lines. Some of us falter more in the former, holding back. others falter in the latter and go too far. Filling in well is a life of fulfillment. Painting outside the line is a life of evil and oppression and is dangerous. When I let God, the professional painter Who drew the square, take me in His hand, a perfect job is done! The Holy Spirit is my Teacher. His grace fills in where I lack. His precious blood also wipes clean what I paint outside the lines!
Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
I
Rebellion _ O _Transgression
I Oppression
V
Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
James 1:13-15 (NKJV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
God takes the responsibility to bless, provide for and protect within His territory of each person and also maintains it. There is peace and rest within this boundary. The Lord judges here between people.
Around midnight, a few years ago, thieves invaded our home, took the car key and drove away in the sports car that belonged to our son. Being far away from home at that time, my husband and I were shaken by the news. Imagine thieves inside the house where your children are asleep! The Lord was in control and He gave us peace. He had put a boundary line around the children which the thieves couldn’t cross. The car was of course outside the boundary because it wasn’t meant for us!
Psalms 16:5-6 (NKJV)
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Psalms 121:7 (NKJV)
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
Psalms 147:12-14 (NKJV)
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat.
Falling short of God’s boundary is also sin. Neglecting my duty towards others means not matching up to God’s plan for me. God’s love released through my life is the reflection of His glory. I need to diligently take responsibility to wisely do all that God expects me to do, within the area of authority He has given me. Therefore I need to clearly know the boundary God has set for me. I learn this from my map book, the Bible. I am led in this path by the GPS - Gentle Promptings of the Spirit!!
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
My life is like a child painting to fill in a square. I leave patches unpainted and I paint beyond the lines. Some of us falter more in the former, holding back. others falter in the latter and go too far. Filling in well is a life of fulfillment. Painting outside the line is a life of evil and oppression and is dangerous. When I let God, the professional painter Who drew the square, take me in His hand, a perfect job is done! The Holy Spirit is my Teacher. His grace fills in where I lack. His precious blood also wipes clean what I paint outside the lines!
Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
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