Boundaries

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

Scripture Reference – Luke 8:51

People do a lot of social activities during the holiday season.  There are so many opportunities to fellowship with others. In addition to fellowshipping with others, social fitness is also about setting and maintaining boundaries.  Boundaries are important in any relationship such as marriage, family, friendship, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, church members, etc.  Boundaries let us know exactly where we stand in each relationship as well as what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in various social settings.

Jarius, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus Christ requesting him to heal his daughter.  Jesus Christ went to Jarius’ house and set boundaries so that the healing could take place.  He put people out of the house. Only her parents and certain disciples were able to be in the operating room.  The parents held the original idea of their daughters’ perfection.  Each of the disciples present represented a particular spiritual faculty that was a necessary part of the healing process: Peter (faith), James (order), John (love).

Consciousness is our awareness of God and the good in each situation.  Each person has an individual consciousness and each group has a collective consciousness. Jesus Christ desired for the collective consciousness of the group to be one of healing.  Any individual who did not hold the vision of the young lady’s wholeness had to leave the room.  Only those who were on one accord with the Christ consciousness could stay in the room.

Jesus Christ manifested social fitness by setting boundaries in the house. He was not afraid to say who could stay and who had to go.  Like Jesus Christ, it is important for us to know when to put people out of the room of our lives.  Releasing people and letting them go is essential to our success at being socially fit.  Some people are not able to be with us in certain places or at certain times due to their consciousness.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity Temple of Truth Church, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.