WHEN GOD BREAKS OUR BOX
 
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…”  Proverbs 29:18
 
Each of us has our own standard on what will please God.  Some of our standards are biblically based; others are standard practices we have learned over time.  Basically, we have seen God work and as a result we have our thoughts on how and why God works.  I think of Peter who had traveled with Jesus, was anointed with the Holy Spirit and God had to give him a vision to break his box.
 
Our sovereign God wanted Peter, his servant, out of his theological box.  When God let down a sheet with unclean animals on it, and said to Peter “kill and eat.” 

Can you imagine saying ‘NO’ to the God you love and trust.  Peter’s response to God was “Not so, Lord!  For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” (Acts 10:14).  If it were more important to Peter to resist God’s vision for change, a lot of people would not have come into salvation.
 
Peter and six other Jews went to the home of Cornelius and found many who had come together.  Cornelius said “we are all present before God to hear all the things commended by God.” (v. 33b).  You know the story that they received the word from God, the Holy Spirit fell, and they were baptized.  Peter and the Jew with him were astonished.
 
When Peter and his crew returned to the apostles and brethren, they reprimanded them.  Whether we like it or not, sometimes we are too closed minded and fixed in the standard of the past to allow God to break our box.  God has some visionaries here; you must share the vision and, like Peter, ask God who should go with you.  For those of us who have not received the vision, may we allow God to break our boxes so that we will not become a hindrance to the work of God, because people are perishing.
 
Have you ever wondered how the woman with the alabaster box felt?  The Holy Spirit had led her into a room of religious men.  She broke the alabaster box and the very costly fragrant oil was then poured on the head of Jesus.  Jesus' very disciples saw it and were indignant.   When Jesus saw this he said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman?  For she had done a good work for Me.”
 
Things to consider: 
  1.  We do not know everything.
  2.  We need to be open to hear about God’s vision from others.
  3.  We need to learn to be supportive of others.
  4.  We need to have a group of people around us that are supportive.
  
GIVE YOUR BOX TO GOD AND LET HIM BREAK IT.