2The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They asked, "Where did he get all his wisdom and the power to perform such miracles? 3He's just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us." They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him (Mark 6:2-3 NLT).
Have you ever felt that someone has put a limit on you as to what they think you can do? Perhaps you have heard things like, “he’ll never amount to much,” or words such as, “she has always been like that and always will be.” Or maybe you have spoken such words over someone?
We must be careful with our words. Words have great power to create and build a person up, but they also can destroy. I always remember how hurt I was at the tender age of 11 to be called the ugliest kid in a school of over a thousand kids. The picture of it happening to me is still branded in my mind. It took me a long time to break out of that self-image of ugliness. What words were spoken over you that still limit you today? The people referred to in our passage of Scripture above were offended at Jesus because he was just a carpenter. He didn’t have the right stock, and He'd never been to Bible school or seminary. He's just a carpenter and a woodworker and has no place in ministry! People can place limits on us with their words, and further to that, we also can limit God with our unbelief.
We should no longer look at those who have given their lives to Christ in the same way as we once did. If a person is in Christ, there is incredible potential given to them by the Spirit of God. Let the lid that has held you down be taken off! Paul, the apostle, in his second letter to the Corinthian Church, told them to “regard no one from a worldly point of view” (2 Corinthians 5:16). What did he mean? I believe he is talking about taking off the limits that we place on one another. We are no longer bound to the person we were before we met Christ. Words such as, “He’s always been like that” should no longer limit the people of God. The Lord wants to release us from words spoken in the past. When you think of others, believe the best about them and pray that they would reach their full potential in Christ. God is well able to transform those around us, those who are our children or grandchildren, as well as friends. Trust God to take the limits off you and those around you.
Prayer: Lord, I may not be everything you want me to be yet, but please help me to break free from every box that has limited me in my growth to be like Jesus. Let the lid be taken off! Keith Thomas