The Frustration of Limits

Day 296: 2 Timothy 2:1-21

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” - 2 Timothy 2:8-9 ESV

Limits are frustrating. They are a constant reminder of what we CANNOT do. You cannot go without sleep for 48 hours and function well. You cannot refuse to drink water for over three days and survive. You cannot, in our present world, go a day without making a mistake.

Paul's limit toward the end of his life was literally being incarcerated. No more wild tangles with the beasts in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:32). No more sailing to contend with those in Corinth (Acts 18). All he had were his friends in Rome to keep him alive and a Scribe to write down letters on his behalf.

Paul became a Christian in AD 33 or 34 and was killed around AD 64 at the order of Nero himself. For the last seven years of his life, he was in chains. What would happen after the greatest missionary force in Christian history was gone?

Churches continued to grow, and the foundation we are standing on today was being laid. How was this possible with such a premature departure from one of our greatest leaders?

God has persisted throughout history in using limited people through His unlimited power that is sourced by the Bible we read and lean on today. You and I are still a part of this today. Don’t let your limits try and tell you what you can't do. Allow God to show you what He can do through you.