I have not posted in awhile mainly because of business of the goings on at Hope House. But I saw this video a few months ago and it has really caused me to think about how Jesus has taken my chains but I always try and take them back from Him. Here is the video link if you want to watch it before I say my thoughts. It is 8 min. long but I would highly suggest everyone to watch it. It's called Jesus Loves Barabbas by Judah Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bU-Rf_k24Q&feature=youtu.be
Every time I watch it I get all emotional because its true! I am Barabbas. I am shackled and have chains on my shoulders. Heavy burdens and sins that weigh me down, that I trip over, that hurt my back, that choke me. The chains distract me from my every day life. I then stand on this platform of forgiveness and grace with Jesus and He says "give those chains son" and I tell Him "NO" then I walk down the platform with the chains still on. That does not make any sense now does it. If anyone said I would take those burdens from you, you would think yea I would give them up. ITS JESUS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD standing there asking for them, He can handle anything and yet I still hold onto my burdens and sins. Why??? It's because I think I can get out. I don't want to be a burden to Jesus, I don't want Him to have to deal with all my crap even though He has paid for it already. So I then try to go along life with these chains holding me down and getting in my way.
I try and deal with them by my own strength and power, but the sins keep coming back up and the burdens distract me. This happens until the point of exhaustion... until I have nothing left... That's when I finally give them to Jesus, when I can't go on an I "need" Him. I mean I always need Him but at this point I really need Him. He gratefully takes my chains upon Himself and I feel great. I start feeling more confident. I walk up straight. I have more energy. I am getting closer to Him. It eventually gets to the point where I start asking Jesus to give me back my chains. "I mean come on Jesus I feel great! I'm healthy now and I don't need Your help anymore." I take them back from Him. At first it's fine I think "I got this." But then eventually I am back in the same state as before on my knees in front of Jesus asking Him to take them again.
It's a hard task because I have pride and even sometimes I just forget His power. My pride says you can handle this yourself. You are a good person do you really need Jesus's help? The answer is always yes. Sometimes I just forget what Jesus has done and what He can do. I just go along with the flow of the world doing my own thing. I need to remember He heals the broken and loves and cares about those in distress. He died so that He could take these chains from me so I would not have to carry and bear them myself! What an Awesome Savior!
I am learning to allow Jesus take my chains and keep them. Sometimes its a daily struggle to allow Him to take them, but I am so much better off when He has them. I can focus more on my daily tasks and I am not weighed down by the chains but I am set free. I can grow closer to Him and learn more about Him through what He has done for me. "It was only Jesus, It will never stop being Jesus, Jesus is enough!"
