"The verdict is guilty." Those words will send a drug dealer in the midwest to prison, and rightly so. But they also sent broken arrows to another man's heart--my husband, the juror. For two days he listened to sordid testimony, and had a glimpse into the dark side of our world--a story straight from a world of sin that would rival any police show on late-night TV! Only this was not make-believe drama from Hollywood. This was real--and heartbreaking. Men and women chained in prisons of their own making, as demons of hell clapped their hands with glee. May God somehow reach into their dark world with the light of the Gospel and freedom in Jesus Christ.
But theirs is not the only world into which God must reach...for hidden deep within each Christian lies prisons of our own making, prisons that chain us to fears, habits, sins, that only God can release. Are you ready to be released from a dark, lonely prison holding you captive? Come with me to the Well--the Great Liberator waits there for us all!
A Helping Word...or Two!
Captive by Yesterday!...I can hear it now. Peter, imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel, has lots of time of his hands--time to tell his captors wonderful stories about the Christ whose message got him there! Fishing stories and healing stories--but what about the "campfire story"--when he betrayed his Lord? Would he have told that story too? Or would it have been a dark secret hidden in the corner of his heart? No, I believe Peter would have told it all--for his yesterday did not enchain him. It could have, but Peter accepted the Lord's full love and forgiveness for his failure. He moved on--to a life of ministry and miracles--as his captors were about to see!
How about you? Chains of unresolved guilt, fear, turmoil can rattle all around you with their noisy accusations. Listen no more! Let Christ FREE you from the failures of your yesterday. His love and forgiveness are enough--receive it; shake off the shackles once and for all. Let thoughts of the past bring healing, not heaviness. Remember, a heart captivated by the love of God can never be held captive by chains of the past--believe it, and be FREE!!
"There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1,2 KJV)."
Peter's heart overflows with the joy of the Lord. You see, Peter may be a physical captive of Rome, but his spirit cannot be enchained. His "today" is in the hands of the Lord, and what could bring fear and frustration instead brings a song! Of course, I have no Biblical prooftext for Peter's song--but in my heart, I just KNOW he was not sighing; he was singing--a joyful servant of the Lord, not held captive by his circumstances, but trusting in His Lord!
How about you? Chains of frustration, fear, stress, anxiety can tie you in knots, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually--until they squeeze the song right out of you! Let's really believe that we can trust Him with our daily lives and events--He walks with us, listens to us, loves us, and He will give us a song. Let's saturate ourselves with praise until our jitters are replaced by His joy! For remember, a heart captivated by the joy of God can never be captive by the chains of today. Believe it, and be FREE!
"Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart...(Isaiah 65:14 KJV)."
Captive by Tomorrow!...I can hear it now. Peter, with time on his hands, and the hands in chains, still has God's Word in his heart. And it's too powerful not to share with his captors. And so he begins to recite Scriptures from the depths of his heart--not brain-learned, but Spirit-learned! God's Word, in his prison, becomes precious--it holds and quiets him. And the guards see not a nervous strung-out prisoner; they see a peaceful, calmed-down person, secure in the promises of his God. Now, of course, I have no prooftext for this either--but look at Peter's life, his boldness, his love for God, and you'll hear him quoting God's Word too!!
How about you? Chains of anxiety, fear, uncertainty tangle themselves around your heart, until you are helpless to deal with today! Our tomorrows are safely in the hands of our Lord. I've heard my pastor dad, now with the Lord, say it so many times, "All your tomorrows must pass Him before they get to us." He and mom were living testimonies of God's faithfulness and provision, even in their senior years. I've seen it firsthand--God takes care of His own! No need to call the 900-PSYCHIC number...Save your money--or give it to missions! God has your future safely in His hands--that's His Word, and that's enough to know! Let thoughts of tomorrow bring you peace, not panic--for a heart captivated by the peace of God can never be held captive by the chains of tomorrow!
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 KJV)."
Now, as our pastor would say, "Do you want to hear the rest of the story?" Sleeping Peter, of the shackled hands and unshackled heart, was not shackled nor asleep long--for a surprise visitor, an angel of the Lord, entered the scene. When angels enter the scene, miracles happen! The Scripture says, "And his chains fell off from his hands." Peter found himself in the middle of a miracle! The angel escorted him out of the prison, down the street, and disappeared. Peter must have rubbed his eyes, shook his head, and muttered, "Now where did HE go?" With joy, he runs to the house of his praying friends, knocks and knocks until finally someone believes him, and the "praise party" begins!
The Lord Himself wants to arrive in your prison, loosen your shackles, and free you from the chains of your yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. Let His love, joy, and peace captivate your heart--and watch the chains fall! He sets the captives free--and YOU are no exception--be FREE in the Name of the Lord!
And that's just a word or two--from my heart to yours!
