Probably a year ago now, I wrote and taught my men about living within your own circle. It has become one of the most used concepts I’ve taught. The concept is to draw a circle on a white board with a stick figure inside the circle representing you. The concept is based on the Scripture that says, each of us will give an account for OURSELVES to God. The circle then represents the things I am responsible for in my life that I will one day answer to God concerning. Imagine everyone then having their own circle of responsibility. My responsibility is to develop and guard my relationship with God. If He is in control, I will have joy, love, peace, kindness, goodness, self-control, etc. I will respond to those outside my circle in healthy ways, not controlling, not manipulating or not allowing them to bulldoze me. My value will not rise or fall based on your opinion or evaluation of me. It is living responsibly with healthy boundaries.

It actually develops more fully to include who can or cannot add anything to me as a person. Who can or cannot validate me. Ultimately, I am who I am, I rise or fall before God alone. He says I am His Son and He loves me, has gifted me for His purposes and that is enough.

So then, apply this concept to the earthly life of Jesus. From the get-go He received all his validation from the Father. He was sent on a mission and accepted that as His role, so, he never thought Deity was something He had to grasp or attempt to hang on to. He humbled himself and became a man, a servant and willingly died a cruel death. He heard the booming voice at his baptism, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” He moved right into forty days of fasting and toe-to-toe with the devil. His ability to stay within his circle meant Satan really had nothing to offer him, nothing to pull him away because he was fully validated by the Father, he needed nothing outside his circle. Same throughout his earthly ministry. He knew who he was, he needed no validation from religious leaders so he could challenge them and show them plainly when they were in error or hypocritical. He also, was totally comfortable with the down and outers, he mingled with anyone because they could do nothing to diminish who he was either.

Even in the end when he was beat, mocked and challenged, “Prophecy who hit you!” he had no need to play the game, totally confident in the Father’s ability to judge fairly later on. Then from the cross, totally within his own circle, “Father forgive them, they have no clue what they are doing!”

Jesus is the perfect example of living within your own circle. He always knew exactly where the lines were drawn between his responsibility and calling and where others were responsible for themselves. A great lesson to ponder and practice. In this life we will never get it down as well as he did, but it sure is the most healthy way to live your life.

blessings,

Scott