Have you ever thought about the freedom that you have been
given in Christ Jesus? When you sing the
song “Amazing Grace” (My chains are gone) how does it make you feel to know
that you are not being restrained from teaching others about Christ? Remember when Paul was in prison and there
was an earthquake and it loosened all of the prisoners chains? What an amazing feeling it must have been to
know that “their chains were gone” yet it was all part of God’s plan for Paul
and the prisoners to stay there and not leave.
The Philippian Jailer was about to take his life. He knew that if any of his prisoner’s escaped
that he would surely be put to death.
What beautiful words it must have been to him to have heard Paul cry out
“Do thyself no harm, we are all still here!”
(Acts 16:28). All of the sudden
he realized that he too was a prisoner within himself and that he wanted what
they had. He wanted to be released from
the chains that were keeping him a prisoner of the world. Whatever Paul had that caused him to sing
songs of praise in prison and to stay in such a place when his chains had been
loosened he too wanted a part of that!
So he yelled out “Sirs, What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). And Paul taught him Jesus and that same night
he believed and was baptized and was saved!
If you
are a Christian living in America then you have many more freedoms today then
Christians living during Paul’s time.
However, are you taking advantage of these freedoms to share the good
news with others, demonstrate the love of Christ in how you live your life,
invite others to come with you to a bible study, youth rally, or church
retreat, or special service? OR…are you
letting the “chains” of life bog you down.
Are you feeling depressed? Do you
feel like your marriage is dead? Are you
living in financial debt? Are your
children causing you grief? Has someone
close to you died? Isn’t it time that
you let go of these chains. Just like
the song says and more importantly the bible promises us…our chains are gone
when we are in Christ Jesus! Allow God’s
amazing grace to release you from the chains of life. If you have not yet taken the steps to become
a Christian then please do not delay any further. The Philippian Jailer went that night and was
baptized into Christ!
