Thursday, March 11, 2010

Unshackled

I ran into Mario in front of an area business on Tuesday as I was out on one of my coffee rounds. We struck up a conversation about the coming of spring and I asked where a lot of his friends were. The crowds of day laborers have been getting thinner and thinner the past few months and I figured with the rough economy, many have gone to other cities.

He shrugged his shoulders and said one word.

“Deportado.”

He shared that immigration enforcement has caught up with many of them and that they would be returned to their home country. He shared that his own immigration hearing is going to be held in June; a judge will determine his fate.

At this point, he tugged at his dusty jeans and revealed a large, black rubber coated radio collar strapped to his ankle. The authorities are keeping tabs on whether or not he’s where he needs to be.

After I left, I couldn’t get the image of the ugly monitor out of my head. Mario is a face I see every week; come June, he’ll most likely be gone for good.

Seeing that ankle collar made me stop and think about my own life.

What keeps me shackled? What prevents me from living out the life that God created me to pursue, to experience, to enjoy?

So many of us live life shackled. Your chains might be worry. They might be doubts or regrets. Maybe always seeking peoples’ approval (mine own chains) or maybe an addiction. Anger and unforgiveness are heavy chains as well.

Inertia is a chain for many. Living life without inspiration. Without hope. Without expectations.

WE WERE NOT CREATED TO LIVE LIKE THIS!

You were created to live in the freedom that Jesus makes available for us. This week, when you feel your shackles tightening around you, choking the life out of you, ask God for help.

God alone holds the keys to our chains.

And He wants to set us free.

John 8:31-36
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Acts 16:16-34
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”

This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.

Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

No comments: