Break the Box
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1
Some people spend their whole lives trying to fit into boxes that were never meant for them. Boxes made of cultural expectations, family traditions, or even church rules that God never required. These boxes can be subtle or obvious, but they all have the same effect. They confine, limit, and distort who God created you to be.
Paul understood this better than most. Religious leaders wanted him to prove himself by meeting their standards. They wanted him to go through their process, follow their traditions, and earn their stamp of approval. But Paul didn’t need human validation. He started his letter to the Galatians by saying that he was sent “not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ.” In other words, he refused to let anyone else define or contain what God had called him to do.
The truth is, following Jesus will often require you to break the box. That’s not rebellion against God; it’s obedience to Him. Sometimes breaking the box means walking away from what everyone else expects so you can step into what God is actually asking of you.
There’s a powerful picture of this in Mark 14. A woman approached Jesus with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Rather than keeping it sealed or using it sparingly, she broke it open and poured it out over His head. That moment was an act of worship and total surrender. She didn’t just offer part of what she had. She shattered the container and gave it all.
Breaking the box is rarely popular. People criticized that woman for what she did, just like they will criticize you for refusing to conform to their expectations. Some people are fine with you as long as you stay in the box. But the moment you step out, they may start questioning your motives or labeling you as prideful.
You cannot let that stop you. The God who calls you is also the God who equips you. The God who made you is the God who knows exactly what He has placed inside of you.
What box do you need to break today? The box of fear? The box of tradition? The box of other people’s approval? Whatever it is, remember that freedom in Christ is worth more than fitting into any mold the world offers. Break the box and walk boldly in the purpose God has for you.
Some people spend their whole lives trying to fit into boxes that were never meant for them. Boxes made of cultural expectations, family traditions, or even church rules that God never required. These boxes can be subtle or obvious, but they all have the same effect. They confine, limit, and distort who God created you to be.
Paul understood this better than most. Religious leaders wanted him to prove himself by meeting their standards. They wanted him to go through their process, follow their traditions, and earn their stamp of approval. But Paul didn’t need human validation. He started his letter to the Galatians by saying that he was sent “not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ.” In other words, he refused to let anyone else define or contain what God had called him to do.
The truth is, following Jesus will often require you to break the box. That’s not rebellion against God; it’s obedience to Him. Sometimes breaking the box means walking away from what everyone else expects so you can step into what God is actually asking of you.
There’s a powerful picture of this in Mark 14. A woman approached Jesus with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Rather than keeping it sealed or using it sparingly, she broke it open and poured it out over His head. That moment was an act of worship and total surrender. She didn’t just offer part of what she had. She shattered the container and gave it all.
Breaking the box is rarely popular. People criticized that woman for what she did, just like they will criticize you for refusing to conform to their expectations. Some people are fine with you as long as you stay in the box. But the moment you step out, they may start questioning your motives or labeling you as prideful.
You cannot let that stop you. The God who calls you is also the God who equips you. The God who made you is the God who knows exactly what He has placed inside of you.
What box do you need to break today? The box of fear? The box of tradition? The box of other people’s approval? Whatever it is, remember that freedom in Christ is worth more than fitting into any mold the world offers. Break the box and walk boldly in the purpose God has for you.
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1 Comment
I'm breaking the box of other people's approval!