What's your domain? (9/2/13)

Kids who throw temper tantrums in Walmart seem to be crying out for a parent's guidance and even if I'm not the parent it's hard to resist putting things in order. For the most part, all I can do is walk away because those children are not under my authority.

Paul was told to walk away when he wanted to preach the word in Asia (Acts 16:6) and women are told to be subject only to their OWN husbands (Eph 5:22). A common thread in these scriptures is boundaries: staying within our God given sphere of authority (or influence).

Paul speaks of this in 2 Cor 10: in the Lord he was given a sphere of influence or domain, and he was not to step out of that domain because that is where his God given authority was to be used. Inside the domain God's given you are your assignments and God's provision, fellowship and reward. Know your domain-this will also protect you from conflicts and exhausting yourself on behalf of someone elses assignment.