STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT

REFERENCE TEXT: Jeremiah 1:17-19, Mark 6:17-29

When you go shaking a hornet’s nest or a bee hive just because you see one, you can expect that consequences will follow.

Between Jeremiah and John, we see two distinct opposites: while Jeremiah was sent to take a stand against the entire nation of Israel, with fortification and backing from God(Jer 1:19), John appeared to have made an enemy in Herodias because he dared to speak about her marriage to Herod. While John may have been right, it appeared he stepped out of his assignment as herald of Jesus. Outside those boundaries, he became easy prey and eventually lost his head.

It is therefore not just about what you can say or do, one needs to consider if they have the necessary clearance and fortification to handle the repercussions or consequences that follow actions. Each of us must strive to stay within the boundaries of our assignment. Simply put: “not everything must be said by you, and not everything must be done by you! Straying outside the boundaries of your assigned jurisdiction makes you easy prey for an enemy already prowling to and fro like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. Don’t become the next item on the menu.

#sly