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The Power of Limits


“The power of limits” - the words were painted on a piece of modern art.  I’m not really sure what the phrase was supposed to mean but the words really did stir my curiosity.

We don’t often think of limits as having power.  In fact, it seems the opposite is usually true.  Limits, well to put it simply, limit.  How can there be power in that?  Even more so, power and limits seem to be mutually exclusive.

And in trying to decipher it further, if the opposite of power is powerless, then limits and powerless seem to be mutually inclusive.

Mutually exclusive or inclusive?  I’m not really sure but let’s explore power and powerless and limits to see if some light can be shed on these things…

In the fifth chapter of Romans, we find that we are limited in our ability to deal with our sins:  “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”  (Rom 5:6)  While the assessment of our own lack of power is quite blunt, the solution comes from a source totally outside of our selves.  In fact, our own lack of power does not and cannot limit the solution.  What we couldn’t do, He did!

Even after that issue has been resolved and, assuming we have trusted in Christ’s work to take care of our sins, we still run into a limit on our power: “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”  (Rev 3:8)  Again, when we lack power, our God, independent of our own efforts, can keep a door open for our access privileges!

In fact, as we continually deal with our lack of power, our God works to bring about His purposes to compensate for our own powerless state and related limitations:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, that that the power of Christ may rest on me.”  (2 Cor 12:9)

And God does establish limits:  “From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live.”  (Acts 17:26)  And yet, within those limits established for us, God’s power is not limited but is actually unleashed to bring about His eternal plans and purposes.

I know I haven’t really deciphered what the phrase on the piece of art meant.  But, in shedding some light on the words, I can say that I am grateful that when I am powerless (or have little power), God provides what I need.  I am also grateful that He chooses to demonstrate His power in and through my weaknesses.  He does that out of His grace and I’m thankful that I don’t have to earn it or do anything to deserve it!


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