(16) “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.  (17) And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and the fatness of the olive tree, (18) do not boast against the branches.  But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.  (19) You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’  (20) Well said.  Because of unbelief, they were broken off, and you stand by faith.  Do not be haughty, but fear.  (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.”  (Romans 11:16 – 21 – NKJV) 

For two or three days I’ve searched for the scripture to go along with the topic God gave me.  Then, during my wife’s and mine daily Bible reading it leapt off the page at me.  Praise God for His Word!

In Romans 11, we see Paul explaining that the Jews did not accept Christ because they put Him in a box.  Let me explain what putting God in a box means to me.

26 – Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;  let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 – NKJV)  As you see here in Scripture, we are made in God’s image.  When we put God in a box, we are making God in our image.

1- “And God spoke all these words, saying : (2) “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  (3)You shall have no other gods before Me.  (4) You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (5) you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the inquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:1-5 – NKJV)

When we put God in a box, we are worshiping an idol we have made in our heart, an idol we call God.  We do it so subtly that we believe we are doing right.  But if you remember, in the garden, subtleness was a trait of someone we don’t want to emulate!

This god we create in our image does things our way, which can give us temporary happiness, but cannot really satisfy.  Because we want to find God, the real God.  We won’t be satisfied with anything less.  And God, because He loves us, will reach out to us.  Every once in a while, He will show up, and we’ll have those nagging doubts that something is wrong.  He may show up in a church service, or in a time of prayer, or when we are reading His Word.  And when He shows up, conviction will come.

You know what I find really amusing?  As I grew up in Pentecostal circles, I heard on many occasions preachers say that denominational churches had put God in a box.  But in the last few years I’ve wondered if we haven’t made our own “Pentecostal” box.  I see services that are more about what we want, what we think they should be, rather than what God wants.

I think it’s time we got rid of the box altogether.  That we don’t come to God with our ideas of who He is and what He can do; but that we come to God, according to what His Word says.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)  “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)

If we’re that workman that is studying the Word of Truth, then we’ll know the truth and we will worship the one true God.  And through an open mind and an open heart, truly seeking the true face of God, we will find Him and His will for our lives.  And with that will come satisfaction and fulfillment.