Hanging on for Dear Life
Luke 4:18,19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (NRSV)
You don’t have to look very far to see how people’s own destructive behaviour is ruining, not just their own lives, but the lives of those around them. But as much as we see that in others, how often are we prepared to look in the mirror and see it in ourselves? Hmm?
Have you ever noticed how, when you’re doing something that’s wrong or destructive, or you have a narrow angry mindset about something, you just want to hang on to it for dear life?
We all do that from time to time. We stubbornly persist with our wrong attitudes and behaviours as though somehow, if we keep on going, it’ll turn out alright. In any case, we’re entitled! Right? As irrational as it is, we behave like a dog with a bone and we just won’t let go. And that ends up ruining not just our own lives, but the lives of the people around us.
At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus unrolled the scroll of the Book of Isaiah, and read these words about Himself:
Luke 4:18,19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (NRSV)
Release to the captives, eh? So often we want Him to set us free from our circumstances, or from other people, or from financial troubles. We forget that the biggest thing that we need setting free from is ourselves.
Probably right now, He’s nudging you in your spirit about something specific that you’re hanging on to. Can I encourage you – open it up and hand it over to Him. Don’t hang on to it anymore. Let it go.
Let Jesus set you free.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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