Do You Limit God?

Are you guilty of limiting God? Did you even know it was possible? In Psalm 78:41, the psalmist said that the Jews had “limited the Holy One of Israel.” Let us consider some ways in which we might be guilty of limiting the Holy One of Israel.

In Answering Your Prayers. God stands ready to both hear and answer the prayers of His saints. John penned, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15). However, did you know you could limit God in answering your prayers? Notice Jesus’ words in Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Thus, our prayers are ineffective if we do not believe that God both can and will give us those things for which we ask. James says of the one who doubts in prayer, “Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (Jas. 1:7). Do not limit God in answering your prayers – believe that he both can and will grant your requests!

In Forgiving Your Sins. God wants to forgive our sins – it is the theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. But, we can limit God in forgiving those sins that would send us to Hell. Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mk. 11:25). Some think they can refuse to forgive and forget what others have done to them and still be right in the eyes of God. Jesus, however, says you cannot. We should be willing to forgive those who have done us wrong by remembering the words of Colossians 3:13. Paul commanded, “Forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” God has forgiven us of so much, surely we can forgive others. Do not limit God in forgiving your sins – forgive that you might be forgiven!

In Saving Those Who Are Lost. God would have all men saved, and the gospel is the power to bring about such salvation (2 Pet. 3:9; Rom. 1:16). Have you ever considered that if we do not take the word to the lost, we are limiting the power of God to save them? Read Romans 10:13-15 and note how conversion begins and salvation is found. The genesis of salvation is teaching the one who is lost in sin the word of God. As Christians we should not limit God in saving others by our failure to teach those who are lost. Instead, we must always be teaching the word of God to the lost that their souls might be saved. Do not limit God in saving those who are lost – teach them His word!

David Eldridge