What Holds You Captive?

I know my next post was scheduled  to be on priority;  however this hit me today, and I felt the need to share.

What holds you captive? An intriguing question isn't it!

This morning I read the following:

Ephesians 4:7-8 (NKJV)

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

Grace, captivity, captive, and gifts.

We all have a measure of grace according to Christ’s gift.  In John 14:26-31 we see a little more about Christ’s gift.  These verses highlight two principles.  The presence of help through the Holy Spirit and the death of Christ in which He took the punishment of the world’s sin (John 3:16).  So we have perfect grace, God’s presence, help, and sacrifice.

The other thing I see is that there is captivity. There is One, however, who is stronger than our captivity and took captivity itself captive and in turn gave us gifts in its place.

So what does it mean to be captive?  It is to be imprisoned or confined. Is there something that imprisons your heart, your mind, or confines your life?  Maybe it is anger, unforgiveness, pride, depression, addiction, control issues, laziness, or more. Whatever holds you captive you can be sure of this, captivity remains until it itself is brought captive.  That means healing.  That means bringing the hidden areas of your life out of hiding and revealing the imprisonment. That means truth and transparency, facing the unknown and the uncomfortable and for some it could mean learning a whole new way of living.  The good thing is that in you and those around you were placed gifts that are meant to work together to free captives.  Jesus gave us the tools and even laid down His life for our freedom, but we must pick them up and walk in freedom.   So if you need release from captivity and have a relationship with Jesus already, take a moment and thank Him that He has already brought your captivity captive and ask Him to show you how to use the gifts in you and those around you to walk in the freedom He has provided.

Unsure about this whole Jesus thing? If there is someone in your life that you know who could fill you in then please reach out to them, or I would be happy to talk with you more!