The past weeks at NBWC have been a great time. I have openly used a sermon series preached by Andy Stanley of North Point Church (www.northpoint.org) on the margins of our life: time, emotions, finances and this week we'll conclude with moral margins. The feedback and additional insights the congregation have shared with me have been fantastic. I can't help but think that a nerve has been struck--in a positive way.
If you take a glance at our culture the message is, "Push it to the Max", "Go all the Way", "Spend More", "Work More"...you know what is being said. In contrast, our Heavenly Father calls us back from the edge. Our Heavenly Father asks us to order our days (Psalm 90:12). He asks us to trust him, even with our money (Micah 3:8-10). He implores us to get as far away from sexual temptation as possible (1 Corinthians 6:18).
We all live at limits. The question, and the challenge, becomes which limits will I choose. Culture's or God's? The invitation from God is to allow him to help us create margin.
Picture margin like the space between jogging and sprinting. Sure, we can all sprint for awhile. But does anyone sprint a marathon? What's the longest a sprinter runs in a race...100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters? I think that's about it. But a runner who is keeping a steady pace has margin. There is something in the tank in case it is needed later in the race.
The Bible teaches us to run hard, for we are in a great race. Transversely, the Bible instructs us to live wisely. A wise person knows their limits and lives a few paces back from them.
May God Bless you as you seek His Limits for your Life!
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