“We are to guard and protect our hearts and our minds to make sure we keep good in and evil out. We are to guard and protect our testimony and make usre our lives produce the fruit of God’s Spirit in us. And we are to guard and protect our calling to love God and love people.”- Lysa TerKeurst
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”- Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
Lysa TerKeurst continues Chapter 4 of Good Boundaries and Goodbyes with four important facts we should pay attention to in regard to boundaries. Because, Lysa notes, God take boundaries very seriously. Lysa cover the first three facts today.
1. Boundaries define and protect freedom. When God gave Adam and Eve their boundary in the Garden of Eden, Lysa stresses, He spoke in the context of freedom. In addition, God kept His communication with Adam and Eve very simple. He defined the parameters and told them the consequence for violating the boundary.
2. Access requires responsibility. God gave Adam and Eve great access to Himself as well as the garden. Above all, great responsibility came along with that access. God told them to keep the garden. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for keep, samar, can also be translated as to ‘guard’ or ‘protect.’ For example, it’s used of guards keeping watch as watchmen (Nehemiah 13:22). So, Adam and Eve functioned as much more than just ‘gardeners.’ They guarded and protected the sacred space God gave them. And the same rings true for us.
3. Broken boundaries bring consequences. Adam and Eve failed to be responsible with their freedom. As a result, that freedom was affected. Because they weren’t responsible with the one rule God gave them, that made more rules necessary.
In conclusion, Lysa underscores:
“[God] loves us unconditionally and He will not tolerate our sin. . . . God had grace but His grace was there to lead people to better behavior, not to enable bad behavior. And the same should be true of our grace as well.”
Today’s question: What Scriptures help you guard and protect your heart? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Boundaries failure – or in process?”
