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Unchained But Not Free

We had an old dog that we inherited about a dozen years ago when she was already a mother.  As she has gotten older she has developed some interesting (sometime aggravating) quirks.  Among other things, she does not like to go outside if it is wet, she stands directly behind anyone who is home (which causes stumbles and near falls repeatedly), and her stomach cannot handle people food but she begs for it with pleading eyes.

One day we were letting her outside and we realized that the leash which is attached to the back steps had been cut in half.  My wife put the leash clasp on her collar as always and went back inside.  She watched out the window as our dog went in her usual patterns and did not go any further than the chain would usually have allowed her. 

Although the chain was not attached to anything but her collar, she was still controlled by what the chain had allowed her to do before. We can be just that way in our Christian lives. We actually have a tremendous amount of freedom and possibility to be useful to God and others but too often we allow the chains of past experiences and failures to limit how far we are willing to venture from the safety of our familiar patterns.  

In the Bible God called many women and men to venture away from their normal patterns so that he could use them in fresh and unique ways. A few quick examples are that Moses was called away from life in a palace, Amos was called to be a prophet instead of a shepherd, and Matthew was called to be Jesus' disciple rather than a tax collector. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 says "Now the Lord is spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is freedom." The Greek word in the original Bible text which is translated freedom means to be freed or have liberty from the chains or bondage which accompanied slavery.  Slavery in Biblical times was not like our concept of slavery from late 20th century Western history.  Slavery was usually based upon unpaid debts or persons who were unable to support themselves or their family.  Being freed from slavery was not only losing the bondage to another person it meant that a person could now be a productive member of society.  They could break out of their old patterns and be useful to themselves and others in fresh and exciting ways. 

Thank God for the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ when we are forgiven of our sins and we begin again, fresh and new in our spirits.  After salvation, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we begin the adventure of letting go of the limits in our heads and hearts that were placed there by years of bondage and slave-like thinking.  Unchained and free!
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Location: Fort Edward, NY 12828, USA

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