A Devoted Life: Just Walk Away
Three times in the book of Acts the Lord miraculously removes the chains of his imprisoned disciples. I noticed as I read that despite the miraculous removal of chains and an angelic presence each time, the believers were still expected to act.
In Acts 5, the Lord opened the doors and brought the disciples out, but then told them to go and preach. In Acts 12, as Peter’s life was in danger from Herod, an angel appeared and struck Peter. He told him to get up, dress himself, put on his sandals, wrap his cloak around him, and walk out of prison. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were freed by an angel but had to immediately step in to save the life of their jailer, then follow him out and to his home, where they ministered directly after.
The point? God takes off the chains, but I must walk away from prison.
When the Lord Jesus saved us, he freed us to eternal life by grace alone. After that salvific moment, though, he partners with us in the business of becoming holy. He has taken off the chains; I must walk away. I must walk away from the fears that paralyze me, from the sins which enslave me, from the habits which keep me down. So often I call out to him to save me from those, and it’s not that he doesn’t help. He does. But most often he whispers, “I took off the chains, but you must walk away.”
Sometimes I find it’s easier to be angry with him for not helping enough, but really, it’s that he’s given me the power to move. Is there something the Lord is calling you to walk away from? Go ahead. You’re not shackled anymore!
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:18-21, ESV
Devotion drawn from my The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional. Available now from Tyndale.
Main photo used with purchase permission from Shutterstock.
