Bondage

There are many people that are in some kind of bondage; some brought on by the choices they make while others can be the result of past experiences, like fear and rejection and how they reacted to them.  Many people can’t face reality so they think of ways to escape it.  

Some use alcohol and some choose to pop pills of various kinds to try to get high while others choose heroine or whatever they can shoot into their veins to get a quick high so they can feel good about themselves because they don’t want to take responsibility for their own actions, or the circumstances they find themselves in that they may have had no choice about.  Some people become party animals, so to speak, always looking for the good time, running here and there to be entertained.  Bondage to me is like having a monkey on your back that you can’t get off.

All these things become a crutch for people to lean on to get them through each day.  How do I know?  I know because I have used some of these crutches myself over the years, but there are other bondages that we may not hear about as often as some of these.

One of them is guilt and this can, and does, lead to depression.  Another may be a sickness of some kind.  These problems can cause panic attacks and much stress, which in turn can cause people to keep themselves so busy, trying not to think about their problems.  The guilt they hang onto is so overwhelming they can’t sleep at night, and if they do, because they are so tired, they don’t sleep long enough to be beneficial and they feel worse when they get up.  

Some believers may think of God as being so angry and judgmental that they run around like chickens with their heads cut off, getting involved in so many ministries just trying to appease God, which can put them in bondage also.  I think many people think God is like their parents were; if their parents were tough and hard on them, they may relate to God in the same way.  If their parents were loving and kind they may think of God as being like that also.  People come from so many backgrounds; some good, some bad and some horrible situations and relationships with their parents which can cause them to have a distorted view of God.  There is one thing that I know; God doesn’t love you because of your performance, He loves you because He is love and for no other reason and no matter how much you do, He won’t love you any more or any less.  

God is the answer for all the problems I mentioned above, He is the one who not only wants to set you free, but He is the only one that can set you free.  It says this in Psalms 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”  

Here are some verses you can read for encouragement:  

1 John 4:9-10, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Jeremiah 31:3, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.’”  

Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 139:15-16, “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

Revelations 21:3-4, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”

I know that it may be hard for some people to believe that God has unconditional love, but He does.  Some things you may have to accept by faith and I hope that you will.  I also hope this Tidbit has helped you.  Something to think about!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!