Freedom Through Restriction
2 Kings 15:19-38; 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 5, 6
"Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. .
. . Now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive
your benefit. . .the outcome, eternal life" (Romans 6:18,
22).
As the directors of a child care center watched the children
playing outside, they noticed them staying quite close to the
building, even though the yard itself was quite large. It was
evident that the busy intersection and passing cars had frightened
the children into huddling together in one spot.
One of the directors suggested putting up a fence, and the day
after it was erected the children were seen playing happily all
over the yard. The fence represented security and, consequently,
freedom. Knowing their limits expanded the children's sense of
freedom and their capacity to enjoy it.
If God's love did not provide fences in our lives, the result would
be chaos, disorder, and unhappiness. God's restraints produce
freedom, which brings satis faction and fulfillment.
What fences do you think God has provided for you in order to avoid
unhappiness?
Job, during his predicament said, "He has walled up my way so that
I cannot pass; and He has put darkness on my paths" (Job 91:8 ).
But we read later in Job: "And the Lord restored the fortunes of
Job when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10).
So, no matter what your situation is now, no matter how many
"fences" you think there are in your way, trust the Lord to remove
them at the right time.
