Easter is a time where we remember that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to set us free from our sins. Acts 13:39 tells us, “and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” So for Easter we think on that, take family pictures in our cute Easter outfits, hunt for eggs and eat chocolate bunnies.
Then Easter Monday, it’s like we go back to life as normal. Similar to how the apostles went on their way after Jesus died thinking that all was lost. It’s so easy to be thankful for the freedom Jesus provided and then turn around and go right back to our beat up and broken lives. Jesus didn’t die just to set us free from our sins, He died so that we could have abundant life. He didn’t go to the cross so that we could suffer through until one day we are in heaven with Him. He prayed that God’s will would be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
Yesterday as I was worshipping at church, God gave me a vision of people carrying chains and bags. The chains were huge and the bag were heavy. No one was making them, but the people were carrying them and looked defeated. In that moment, God said, “I’ve already set them free, they just need to let go.”
We need to stop waiting to be set free and just let go. I’ll find myself praying for God to set me free of something (like worry or doubt), and His response is “I already have.” It is a lie to think that we need God to do another work to free us. I love Zach Williams, but if we have chains, we just need to drop them.
Sometimes I can even feel like it is my burden to carry. It is better me than someone else. But even that is a lie. Jesus said His yoke is easy and burden is light. Right before Jesus died, he proclaimed, “It is finished.” There is nothing left for God to do. The only thing left is for us to walk in that freedom.
Paul said it like this in Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Jesus said in John 8:36, ““So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus set us free and we can stand firm in that freedom. We don’t need to carry our chains anymore.
until next time…