Keeping the Chains

I woke up with one of my memory verses on my mind. It was on instant replay and stayed fresh every time. 

26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26 NIV)

The thing that strikes me so about this today is that as believers we are set free from the chains that trap us. 

Things like addiction, fear, the things we do that no one knows but God, the past traumas or sins that we believe someone else did to us and the things in our head that tell us we don't measure up. All those chains keep us from freedom in Christ and they allow the devil to use us for his plans. 

Even if we believe Christ set us free do we believe that for others?  Lately I've seen some situations where someone's past sins were used by others to not only try to hold them captive but they hold the person judging them captive as well. If satan can keep us offended and hurt and bitter about something we did or something someone else did to us then we are being used by the traps of the devil. 

We are to show Christ's love in everything. Even when we don't agree or feel like somehow we are getting back at someone by judging their sin as less than ours we are not loving like Christ and we are letting the chains of our past keep us from joy. 

Sometimes someone else's sin has a significant impact on our lives. How we let that affect us can be either used by God or against God. If we decide that we should cut them out of our lives or make choices that we know will hurt them then we are trying to keep them in chains but really only chaining ourselves in bitterness.   

We have to embrace our freedom and forgive the past and allow those people to be free as well. That is not always easy and only when we seek God can we live free and allow others to be free as well. 

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Galatians 5:13 ESV

Burn the traps that the devil wants to use. Pour the oil of mercy, grace and forgiveness on them and ignite them with God's unconditional love.