After two games, the Celtics appeared to be in control of their series with the Cavs. However, in Game 3, Cleveland responded at home with a 116-86 convincing victory. All five starters for the Cavs scored in double figures, as well as, Kyle Korver off the bench.

Impressive all around, the Cavs seemed to do everything right throughout the night. Kevin Love contributed 13 points and 14 rebounds, but also led the team with four turnovers.

I hate to dwell on the negative, especially since they got the much-needed win, but Love was called twice for stepping out of bounds. Guys are free to stand anywhere on the court, but players must be aware of the boundaries so they don’t catch the ball with their foot over the line and turn the ball over. In some games it can prove to be costly.

While spreading the floor on offense, players run the risk of getting too close to the out of bounds line. That’s exactly what happened to Love and he ended up crossing the line twice.

When following Jesus, we’re given boundaries of obedience to protect us and keep us from going out of bounds. But while given freedom to go anywhere on “the court,” we’re also called to avoid sin.

Unfortunately, we too often flirt with sin and get as close to the line of disobedience as we can. Even though we think we can handle ourselves and not actually cross the line, we get careless and find ourselves out of bounds.

We should never get so close to danger and risk a “turnover,” but often our desire for sin causes us to keep inching closer and closer until we cross the line.

Instead of asking where the line is, we should be more concerned with where God is. We should want to be closer to Him rather than close to the line of sin.

Do we want to please God or ourselves? What is our motivation in inching up to the line…and where is our heart if that’s our mindset?

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Today, let’s be encouraged to remain in the “middle of the court,” centered on Jesus with a strong desire to please Him above else. Let’s not hang around the out of bounds line, tiptoeing around sin, getting as close as we can, and thinking we’re not going to cross the line.

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14 – NIV).

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the grace that covers me when I do cross the line, but I pray my motivation would be to avoid anything that gets me closer to sin. I desire to remain close to You and Your way. I know Your boundaries are for my good and I pray I’d remain within them. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.