Since Jesus has made us free, why would a freed man, in his right mind, want to be yoked to bondage again? That’s the million dollar question!
The scripture tell us:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Bondage: a state of being bound usually by compulsion (as of law or mastery):
There are many definitions for the word “free”, but here are the relevant ones to the subject at hand:
Free: enjoying personal freedom; not subject to the control or domination of another; not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being; choosing or capable of choosing for itself; not united with, attached to, combined with, or mixed with something else
Are we in bondage to something? Many of us can get offended by this question, but it is an important question to ask.
What does bondage look like? It could be an addiction to a substance where it has gained mastery over you. It could be a relationship with someone that has become so important, all other relationships are defined or perceived in the light of this particular relationship. It could be someone having so much control over your mind and your emotions that basically they define who you are, and the most important concern you have is, “what does this person think of me?” It could be money, status, or position where you can’t imagine life without it because it makes you feel important or significant.
The thought of being yoked to bondage for most believers would be a crazy idea, one which most people would be appalled. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do such a foolish and sad thing!?
You see the enemy entices us with what looks good and with what we desire in our hearts. What throws us into bondage are those things that we long for and have an affection for that continue to trap us, bait us, & entangle us. We move towards them because they offer us something. They offer importance, significance, popularity, status, & acceptance.
The enemy is very subtle. He gives us a taste of what we desire. That allows us to feel important, popular, or significant, but what we don’t see is that there is a high price tag attached to these desires. The longer we go in a certain direction we get less satisfaction, which in turn makes us want to do more to get the effect we used to get. Now we are in bondage to something or someone!! We are addicted to a certain action or a certain person. We are no longer in control, but we are at the mercy of whatever has given us meaning and satisfaction. We can’t imagine life without it, but life with it has a lot of labor, tribulation and slavery. We find ourselves stuck. We can’t hear the Lord clearly. We’re not sure if we even want to. We see no way out of this mess. There doesn’t seem to be a way out!!
What we should pray for is that the bondage would not give us satisfaction at all, but only pain! Only pain has a way of motivating us to back off, walk away, move on, change direction, and it weans us from the created and allows us to focus on the Creator. Even if it is grudgingly at first, that’s ok. We are always in a better place with the Lord than without him.
“Without Him”, you ask,
“What do you mean? I have been walking with God this whole time! I’ve actually been doing my work for Him. How can I be without Him?”
It’s because the bondage has caused the Lord not to be at the center of your life. You don’t have the intimacy with the Lord you had before. You are confused. You’ve lost your convictions. There are compromises. There are justifications for your actions, but the tenderness of heart and feeling are lost. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is far off. It’s easier to notice other people’s issues and shortcomings rather than your own. You are so bound by the bondage that everything is seen in the light of it.
The yoke must go! Cry, wail, pray and ask God to do whatever is necessary for this yoke to be cut off. You are imprisoned and you don’t even know it. You cannot see what the Lord wants you to see. This is an ungodly yoke. There is a form of godliness but the joy and the life of godliness is lost. You must come out and see the spacious land before you. You must see the abundance of the sea turned to you when you walk in His will. Praise God for Jesus’ blood that cuts any chain and yoke of bondage!
Anything we desire or think, cannot compare to walking freely with Jesus! We cannot be afraid of the consequence of letting go of our bondage. The Lord will fill the emptiness, the loneliness, and the unworthiness you feel. He is your portion. Believe this and start taking steps to get freed up from whatever that has held you in its bondage. Pray for the Lord’s help and strategy for how to get freed up. He will show you what to do and He will give you the grace, provision, and protection to do it.
I’m a Sunday school teacher and the lesson for this Sunday is from Ephesians chapter two where we find that Jesus made us free and gave us peace. But along with this I wanted to teach my students about bondage. I read your article and it opened my eyes to even a deeper look at bondage. I will share what I read from your article. May the Lord continue to use you.
Praise God! Thanks for sharing.
May the Lord continue to your use you as you teach and minister to your students.