By Nancy Virden (c)2025

When Jesus ran into people who were being difficult, he did not enable their wrongdoing or poor choices. His words were not comforting in a platitude way. He never said, “Be true to yourself,” or “Listen to your heart,” or “Aw shucks, it’s ok.” Instead, he drew boundaries and stuck to them.

He met a man who was paralyzed and forgave his sins. After Jesus healed another man who could not use his legs, he told him to stay away from sin, or something worse might happen to him. He told a woman who was caught in adultery to “go and sin no more.”

He made his view clear that confessing one’s rebellion against God and changing was the top order of business. He didn’t spend hours helping people feel good about their slow growth or emotional stamina before repentance. He taught that sorrow over selfishness, pride, lying, self-centeredness, and other unholy acts comes first. After that, refusing to participate in them again was how to show love to God.

He knew we could not do this ourselves. He gave up his life (no one took it) and paved the one way for people to be saved from their sinful inclinations for eternity. His forgiveness cleans us inside out.

Sin is described in the Bible as knowing what is right and not doing it. It is also making deliberate choices to harm others and to disbelieve in God and his Son. Sin is a my way attitude that will not give up assumed control.

Jesus gave all control to his Father’s commands. He never, not one time, sinned. He set the example of one completely surrendered to God’s will. Jesus’ boundaries did not prevent him from eating in the homes of sinners or visiting with marginalized people. His boundaries proved that he loved people enough to meet them where they were and openly tell them they needed to repent. He chose to love people into salvation.

Jesus spent hours in prayer each day. This was part of his holy self-care. He spoke honestly and with integrity, never preaching what he did not himself practice. He went to church, did God’s will, and fought temptation like a warrior, using his knowledge of the Holy scriptures.

These boundaries were never selfish. Some people no doubt felt left out when he traveled from one town to the next. Some thought his mind was like their own, so they falsely accused him of terrible motives and trickery. Not everyone was happy to hear of their need for change. He made many enemies.

The boundaries we draw will also upset those who are practiced at using us for their purposes. They do not want change. God wants what is best for us and others in our spheres, for the sake of love, his name, and our eternal life.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Ephesians 2:8-10

 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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