“All things are lawful unto me, but
all things are not expedient: all
things are lawful for me, but I will
not be brought under the power of
any.” “All things are lawful for
me, but all things are not expedient:
all things are lawful for me,
but all things edify not”
(I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23).
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Setting Life
Boundaries for
the New Year
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The New Year is good time to
do a spiritual checkup. It is
a good time to consider your
spiritual temperature. Do you still
have the zeal that you once had
for God? Can you say like David,
“As the heart panteth after the
water brooks, so panteth my soul
after thee, O God” (Ps. 42:1)? If
not, then you may want to consider
setting life boundaries for the
New Year.
There are three things that you
can do to rekindle your passion for
God. First, what in your life that
is lawful but not expedient? We
have a new life in Christ (2 Co.
5:17). There are many things in
our daily activities that are lawful
but are not necessary. Can I play
golf on Sunday? Maybe there isn’t
anything wrong with recreation
on Sunday. But, if my brother is
offended or if it causes another to
stumble, then I will postpone the
activity for my brother’s sake (1 Co.
10:24, 8:13). My brother’s weakness
is my chains (I Co. 8:9). The love for
my brother should be greater than
my wanting to exercise my freedom.
If it causes sensual appetites I may
want to reconsider the activity.
Second, what is it in your life that
has you in bondage? Christ has
made us free (John 8:36). We are no
longer enslaved by sin (Rom 8:34).
Yet we can allow ourselves to
become addicted to things that in
themselves are not bad. Watching
football is lawful; eating chocolate
is lawful; acquiring money is lawful;
playing golf is lawful; eating
food is lawful, and many other
things are lawful. But we should
not let them become our master.
Paul says he wants only one master
in his life, that’s Jesus! Jesus himself
declares that we cannot serve
two masters (Matt. 6:24).
Third, what in your life are you
doing that does not edify God? We
were made to glorify God. Paul
admonishes, “Whether, then, you
eat or drink or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God (I Co. 10:31).
Can God be glorified in the activity?
We are ambassadors for Christ.
Max Lucado is right, “It’s Not
About Me.”Again, Paul states, “And
whatever you do in word or deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God
the Father (Col. 3:17). Can I give
thanks to God for this activity?
If we are to move from good to
great we must be willing to set life
boundaries for the New Year! “I am
satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied
with Jesus, But the question
comes to me, As I think of Calvary,
Is the Master satisfied with me?
Mary and I wish you and yours a
safe and prosperous New Year!
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