Staying In Frame

"But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure" 2 Corinthians 10:13 

There is a concept in the "Pose" method of barefoot and minimalist (i.e., thin sole) shoe running that is called "staying in frame". The idea is that there is an invisible "frame" surrounding you, two lines vertically parallel to the front and back of your body. If you run properly according to the method, your weight will always remain directly under you, and the force propelling you forward will be dependent upon the force gravity exerts on you as you lean your upper body forward or back, using your sternum as an "accelerator pedal". Any long, reaching strides or pushing off with your feet (which you can't really do running barefoot anyway) will put you "out of frame", reducing efficiency and eventually causing injury. (Running on ice is a great way to test how well you are "staying in frame"!)

Similar to the concept I described in "God's Buffering", sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves when it comes to God's leading. The revelations we have from the Word and from our experiences have not yet been fully assimilated into our being, and we can sometimes make fools of ourselves trying to convince others of truths we don't completely understand yet, coming back months later to sheepishly admit we were wrong. 

Paul said only to boast within the sphere God has given us so far (boasting of Him, not ourselves). If in our zeal we are not giving to others the real truth about God, we do a disservice to everyone involved. Whereas when we "stay in frame" with the Spirit's leading, we may not appear to others or ourselves to move as quickly, but our progress is the most efficient and beneficial to ourselves and others. 

Think about it: our Lord was in ministry on earth for only three years. He was never in a hurry, yet there was not one bit of His Father's will he left undone. He stayed in frame with God's Spirit wherever He went, living each moment He had on earth to the fullest. 

May it be so with us. Amen.