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Resistance to Boundaries
W
e have talked about the necessity of boundaries and their
wonderful value in our lives. In fact, we have all but said
that life without boundaries is no life at all. But establishing and
maintaining boundaries takes a lot of work, discipline, and,
most of all, desire.
The driving force behind boundaries has to be desire. We
usually know what is the right thing to do in life, but we are
rarely motivated to do it unless there’s a good reason. That we
should be obedient to God, who tells us to set and maintain
boundaries, is certainly the best reason. But sometimes we need
a more compelling reason than obedience. We need to see that
what is right is also good for us. And we usually only see these
good reasons when we’re in pain. Our pain motivates us to act.
Even with the desire for a better life, we can be reluctant to
do the work of boundaries for another reason: it will be a war.
There will be skirmishes and battles. There will be disputes.
There will be losses.
The idea of spiritual warfare is not new. For thousands of
years, God has given people the choice of living lives of ruin, or
possessing what he has secured for them. And it has always
involved battles. When he led the Israelites out of Egypt toward
the promised land, they had to fight many battles and learn
numerous lessons before they could possess the land.
We have to fight for our healing as well. God has secured
our salvation and our sanctification. In position and principle he
has healed us. But we have to work out his image in us.