Unshackled Moments ~ February 17 ~ More Than Freedom

Many who come to be followers of Christ do so in search of freedom from bondage, to have the Creator use His power to do what we can't, loose our chains and give us the grace to walk free from the obsessions that are ruling our actions and lives.  To be set free from the drug or the drink or the deck of cards or from the compulsive use of credit cards. People can become addicted to and enslaved by so many different things, and when it's time to break free, many who are successful  take 12 steps and escape.

The one who continually seeks to find both an improved conscious contact with God and truth, will eventually find Christ, regardless of where, who or what their conception of a higher power was. Now, many would disagree with that and even feel angry at me for saying such a thing. People are free to believe and not believe whatever they want in almost every variety of 12 Step Program out there and no one tries to push any one God above another god or one path over another.

True, we can believe what we want. No one makes anyone seek or believe in Jesus. That's not just true of 12 Step programs, that's true of God Himself. He gives us free will to choose or walk away, and freedom isn't forced on anyone. That said, Jesus was very clear and blunt when He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." And the He promised that if you seek Him, you will find Him. Regardless of what is believed at the start of the road, if we continue to pursue truth and improved relationship with and understanding of our Creator we, maybe to our surprise, will find Christ at the center of everything.

Jesus is the answer. He is the one who came to set the captives free, and if all He did was break our chains and give us the power to walk free of the addictions and sins we were slaves to, that would be enough to love Him for. That would  be enough to show Him to be a wonderful and powerful and loving God. That would be amazing grace. But that's not all. Wait there's more! There's so much more than freedom.

Jesus is also the One who heals and restores the damage done when we belonged to our old master. He is the One who doesn't just heal and stop our leprosy but makes us new and whole again. He is the one who took our place before the judge and received the punishment that we deserved so that we would never know condemnation from God. He is the One who died so that we could live, and not just live but live an abundant life worth living, full of peace that passes our understanding, joy that gives us strength and love that can never be lost.

Whether you've ever been or needed to be in a 12 Step program or not, if you seek freedom from future judgement (i.e. to escape hell) or freedom from misery or freedom from an active addiction, that is by no means a bad place to start seeking an answer outside yourself. But once you begin to seek, don't stop. Keep searching, keep knocking and keep listening for that guiding still small voice. You will find the answer is Jesus. The theme of all Creation is Christ, and He has so much more to offer than freedom.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

t of despair.