freedom – m to the 5th

The walls are high, the dungeon deep, the bars unbreakable, the gate impenetrable, the darkness constant – who can rescue me from such a place? Who is able to set me free? King David answered the question with these words –

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:1-3)

Isaiah too, testified that it is God who sets those of us held captive free.

“to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:7)

the prophet Isaiah also said –

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” (Isaiah 61:1)

Ever feel like something or someone is holding you hostage? Do you feel like a prisoner in your own home, in your own skin, in your job or in your relationships? There are so many things that can hold us in bondage. Of course there is literal, physical incarceration. But there are other kinds of captivity that are just as real, things that hold us in bondage as surely as any prison does. Alcohol and drug addictions keep their victims captive indefinitely, sometimes it’s a life sentence. Fear, worry and anxiety are relentless captors, holding a very tight grip on their prisoners. And lies – lies enslave us so easily – keeping us bound for as long as we believe them. Must be why Jesus said –

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Sin is another relentless captor. I am a prisoner of my own sin. We all are. I need a Savior to rescue me from myself, from my sin, and to set me free. I need a Savior who is willing and able to forgive my sin. Sin separates me from my Creator and puts me in a place that is dark without His light. Sin’s hold is strong, like iron chains. Sin keeps me captive, isolated. Sin’s hold on me is like being held prisoner behind gates of bronze and bars of iron. BUT – God’s forgiveness is stronger than all sin. Must be why Isaiah said this –

“Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, . . . Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 107:10-16)

God’s unfailing love for each of us, those He created in His image, is so powerful that He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. God’s love sets me free. God’s forgiveness sets me free from my sin. God’s truth sets me free from the devil’s lies. Jesus’s death on the cross sets each one of us free from sin and death. In Galatians, Paul reminds us –

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

I have been set free from the captivity of constant worry. Jesus was clear about this when He told His disciples –

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . . Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

I have been set free from fear and from having to live in fear. I have His word on that!

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:18-19)

I have been set free from all anxiety which if allowed free reign, would paralyze me, making me a permanent prisoner. BUT – I can follow these instructions, which lead to peace and freedom –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

How wonderful! I have been set free. I say this with the psalmist –

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – the Lord, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,” (Psalm 146:5-7)

thank You, Heavenly Father, for setting me free!

sincerely, Grace Day

alcohol

damaging, dangerous

drains life away, drop by drop

I stand helpless

watching them

die.

I wrote those words as a child, but they are just as real and as painful to me today, as they were the day I wrote them. Perhaps you, too, have lost someone you love to addiction? Addiction is a living death. Your captive loved one is still alive technically, but actually already dead in many respects, as they are not able to live in the fullness and the richness of life that our Creator prepared just for us and designed us to enjoy. Instead, we sell our souls into the captivity of addiction and enter into a lifetime of slavery.

But there is hope, even for those appearing to be too far gone to be revived. That hope of rescue and restoration is in –

“the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)

This is good news! There is a Deliverer! Jesus said this –

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

and in Isaiah I read this –

captives set free – prisoners released from darkness – that’s good news! Alcohol holds many captive, but alcohol is not the only enslaver. New ones appear without warning even as we are busy doing battle with our old familiar captors. Fentanyl is a relatively recent, but very real enemy, a foe who fools its unsuspecting prey by not announcing its presence until it is too late.

And addiction is not the only enemy who holds us captive. Fear holds many people captive for a lifetime, while greed, envy and lies are also formidable foes who can hold us hostage indefinitely. Fortunately for us, we have a Deliverer who came to set us free from anything and everything that threatens to hold us captive.

To those who battle addiction He says –

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

To those who fight against fear –

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ ” (Romans 8:15)

To the greedy, Jesus asks –

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

To those consumed by envy and worry about what others have that they don’t have, Jesus says –

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:27-34)

To those in bondage to lies, Jesus declares –

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Knowing Jesus sets me free because Jesus is the truth!

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)

Jesus came “to proclaim freedom for the captives” – that’s you and me, dear readers – Jesus came to set us captives free! I don’t have to live as a captive to alcohol, drugs, fear, greed, worry, envy, lies or anything else, ever again, because I know –

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

You and I have our Heavenly Father’s promise –

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

from one liberated captive to any others out there –

sincerely, Grace Day