The question was asked at Bible study, “Are you feeling engraved or are you feeling enslaved?”
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” Isaiah 49:16
I thought about it and realized at that moment I was feeling a tad enslaved. It wasn’t the answer I wanted. In fact, my first reaction was to raise my hand up and down in enthusiasm while saying “Engraved, engraved!”
So why do I sometimes live my life as if I am enslaved? Jesus clearly states that He has engraved me on the palms of His hands. ME! YOU TOO! We are right there. Not our names but us: who we are, what we do, all that makes us who we are. Our identity, as my Bible study leader would say. And yet, we live our lives in the complete opposite way of someone who has been engraved on the hands of their Savior.
I keep coming back to the line in that old Eagles song that says, “Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down. Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free.So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains that we never even know we have the key.”
Read that again.
How true is that? We DO have the key. The Bible says so over and over and over again. Jesus came to free those bound in chains. Those in captivity. Those enslaved to whatever it might be: Other people, money, hurt, sickness, anger, and a million other things that keep us bound.
So ask yourself honestly today: Are you living today as engraved or enslaved?
Whatever your answer, Jesus is the key.
Feel free to share....
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by: Dayspring Boldt Broxton
photo: Chelsea Martinez