Break Those Chains

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
(2 Corinthians 3:17)

Meditation

How can I be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, actually be a slave of Jesus Christ, and yet be free? It’s simple; Christ purchased me when he died on the cross. He freed me from my slavery to wickedness. Before I began to follow Christ I was as much a slave to sin as if I had to wear shackles and chains. I had no with no hope for anything but an eternity in hell. Of course, as an unbeliever, I didn’t believe in hell or heaven, but that doesn’t change the fact I was a slave to sin.
As long as I let the Spirit of the Lord lead me through life, I will always be free from the wicked path I would choose on my own. If I make my plans with prayerful consideration, taking counsel from the Lord, I avoid the pitfalls on either side of the righteous path. When I was born again of water and Spirit, I was given the freedom to choose. Does that mean I will always choose the righteous path? No but it does mean I am forgiven when I don’t.
I never used to have much remorse for the things I did. Because I wasn’t saved, I might have moments of feeling sorry I hurt someone, but that would quickly pass. Shortly before I was saved, the Lord must have been working on me, because I began to feel guilty for what I’d done in my past. Those chains of guilt for my past sins were broken when I asked for forgiveness. I was symbolically cleansed of the filth of my past in the waters of baptism, and now I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I am not only free of guilt, I have been freed from the slavery to sin in the first place.
If you haven’t been born again, you are still a slave, and in bondage to your sin nature. You may not even think of yourself as a sinner, but we have all sinned and fall short of the standard set by God. Everyone has told a lie, had an impure thought, or used the Lord’s name as a cuss word. That make you and me sinners and destined for hell. You will always obey the desires of your heart, when there is so much more to life than earthly pleasures. Jesus loved you so much he went willingly to the cross, knowing you may never accept his offer of salvation. Right now, you are at a fork in the road. You can choose a path to heaven or hell. He still loves you and is knocking at the door of your heart right now. Why don’t you open that door and let him in?




Daily Prayer

Lord God in heaven, you are supreme in all creation. You are worthy of every ounce of praise we can muster. Thank you for giving us life and loving us while we are yet steeped in sin. Father, we were separated from you because of sin but it was your plan, from the foundation of time, to provide us a way to be able to come back into your presence. Thank you for the righteousness of Jesus that covers us once we’ve repented. While Jesus was here, he showed us how to live as a servant to all. Please, Father, give us a heart like Jesus, that we may be your light in the darkness of this world. Thank you for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s humbling to know that you want to live in our hearts and guide us on a righteous path. With the Spirit’s direction, we can resist the temptation to return to the wickedness that once controlled our lives. We freely submit our will to yours, Father, and pledge to follow the leading of your Spirit in the footsteps of Jesus. In his name, we pray. Amen!

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