Jesus in a Box

 By Kendra Osborn

“But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.” 

Acts 8:3

Saul was one of those people in the Bible who I'm sure no one would have given a second thought of doing anything positive for the Kingdom. Who would have ever thought that the Lord would use the very man killing those who called on His name to advance the gospel? We can learn a lot from Saul and his transformation and why we should never put Jesus in a box.    

Have you ever met someone you thought would never come to the Lord? Have you encountered a person who reeked havoc in the church and in your eyes you could never see God using them for His Kingdom?

I have to admit, I have had several people like that in my life and I put them in a box. They have been the ones in my life who were the most difficult people and the ones who usually seemed to cause the most problems. From my view point, they were the people I chalked up to having a slim chance of doing anything pleasing for the Lord.

I had a lady in my life who was difficult to be around and after trying and enduring a lot of vulgarity and verbal persecution from her, I stopped having anything to do with her. Instead, I gave up on her and said there was no way she would ever really give her life fully to the Lord. I parted ways with her and I walked away with a heart full of judgment and a very closed mind.

It was a couple of years after I walked away from that relationship that the Lord allowed our paths to cross again. I remember the feelings that welled up within me when she asked if she could visit. Being polite, I said yes, but my heart and mind were filled with far from polite thoughts and feelings.

The day came for our visit and when she walked in my house, I sensed something different. The entire time we were together the Lord started to break me. He taught me something I will never forget. 

As we caught up on all the business in our life, God spoke to my heart and said "Kendra, when you put her in that box and sealed it with the attitude that she would never change and she would never do anything worthy for my Kingdom, you put Me in the box with her." I was broken and I knew I had to repent to God and to her. 

Our visit had come to an end and we were standing in the kitchen and I felt the nudge of the Lord that this was the moment I had to repent to her for placing her in the box. I simply looked at her and told her everything I had felt and that I was sorry I had placed her in a box and for completely writing her off. I gave up on her because I couldn't see past the chaos she was causing.

            Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man (referring to Saul), how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

            But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel." Acts 9:13-15 (NIV)

How great is the Lord that He would use even those who have destroyed the church and have caused so much hurt and chaos. Saul's conversion was huge because of who he was and who he became. The people of Damascus were amazed and the disciples' were not willing to embrace this new man in Christ because of his old ways, actions and words. 

How many 'Saul's' have we encountered in our lives and placed in the box, sealing it in our hearts that they could never be used? We have to understand when we place people in a box, we are really placing Jesus in a box. God can use anyone He chooses, no matter if we place them in a box or not, but His heart's desire is that we would not allow our hearts to hinder someone because we are limited in what we can see in a person. I sometimes wonder what damage I could have done in that women's life if I had kept her in the box. I could have been a huge stumbling block to her and the possibility of inflicting deep wounds was highly likely.

Pray with me:  Lord God, You are the One who knows every heart and mind and You are the one who has predestined our lives. Forgive us Lord for placing You in a box, allowing our hearts to cultivate judgment and un-forgiveness. Lord, we know You are sovereign and can do all things. Your love, oh Lord, can break through the toughest of hearts and melt them like wax. Thank you Lord that You never let us go and You can see past the deep sin in our lives and will turn it for Your good, Your glory. If we have placed anyone in a box Lord, reveal them to us and let us go before You with a repentant heart and ask You to change our heart and mind. Let us never place you in a box Lord. All these things we ask in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.