Property Lines

Justice respects jurisdictions. It respects both sides of a boundary.

Lawlessness ignores boundaries.

Mine. Not mine. It belongs to us. It belongs to them. Who does it belong to?

Who decides? Is it the one who has leverage or brute force on his or her side?

Ultimately it is God's choice. He decides the true boundaries because He is the One who owns everything.

I think that little stretch of land in the middle of the middle east is a perfect example of this principle that goes beyond the boundary of humanistic morality. It resolves the chicken and the egg dilemma with a spiritual trump card. Does the land belong to who came first or occupied longest or does it belong to who God gave it to?

If we respect God's boundaries then we respect God. If we respect God's property then we respect God. Respect then fills the space of the relationship.

God does not have a problem with lust because it feels good. It does feel good. God has a problem with lust because it ignores property lines. The lusting person is a trespasser.

"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?" - Job 31:1-2 ESV

If our inheritance is land and we will not respect territorial rights then we devalue our own inheritance.

Grace is God's beautiful heart that let's others play on his lawn. It does not make the lawn public land where anything goes. The ownership remains firmly in place. The father gives His Son full access. We have become sons and daughters through the life of this same uniquely begotten Son.

So. Do we own the details of the day today? Do we own ourselves?

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

"You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men." - 1 Corinthians 7:23 ESV

Our ownership is the ownership of a steward. Good stewards respect true ownership.

A Biblical world view draws a different map then the world does. It always will because each side sees ownership in a different way.

If we see the real property lines in our job then we can function in them. When we see the real territory in our family then we can live a civilized life in our home. When we honor God's boundaries we will live in true freedom. Man's fences will only keep us bottled up.

We stake claims by faith. We say, 'God owns this land and this is where God has drawn a line. Now I will live in agreement with Him.'

That has such power in every area of our life... if we make those claims by faith God will honor them.

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