Like a Captive Set Free

There is no sound louder than a captive set free.

When I recently stumbled across these words on a random blog, I couldn’t help but pause to reread them.

There is no sound louder than a captive set free.

Freedom has a voice. And seldom is it a quiet one.

When a person who has lived imprisoned for years is unexpectedly granted freedom, how do they react?

Do they casually stroll from the confines of an opened cell door like it is just another day at the office? 
Do they avoid rushing to their friends and family and showing them their broken bonds? 
Are they quiet about their newfound freedom?
Or, worse yet, do they refuse to take advantage of it?

When the cell door has swung wide, with no strings attached, how many captives would choose to remain in prison? 

Sadly, many of us Christians do.

Jesus has opened the gate to freedom wide, and we still live like prisoners.

We repeatedly play the victim card instead of realizing Christ has dealt us the winning hand in spades.

Bitterness builds strong prison bars. 
Unforgiveness holds hostages. 
But it is not our offender who is confined.
It is us. 
Living in the past of transgressions makes tight bonds.

But Jesus sets the captive free. 

Ours is to live like we believe it and walk into our freedom with a shout of redemption’s victory. 

Living free demands that we turn from past sins. 
Or release an offense we hold against another. 
It might require we shift our mindset from one of a victim to that of an overcomer.
And let mercy be the only payback we dole out. 

The cost of our freedom runs high. 

It required a blood sacrifice. 

One Jesus offered freely and paid in full.

Let’s not waste that offering.

Let’s honor it as sacred and live like ones set free. 

Who the Son sets free is free indeed. Don’t let anyone else sway you to live otherwise. No matter their words or deeds. 

You are redeemed, beloved. 

So let’s live like we are. 

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. 

And not just say it. 

But live it loud — like a captive set free.

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After researching it, I discovered the referenced words were taken from the song Let the Redeemed by Josh Baldwin. Here’s a link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqRKQaSfVp0 I hope you listen and pour out your thankfulness as you join with the redeemed in saying so. 

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This post was written in conjunction with https://fiveminutefriday.com/2022/11/24/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-like/
Disclaimer: This week’s prompt of “like” sparked the above post, but I allowed myself more than the suggested five-minute time segment. Still, I thank Kate at FMF for the inspiration. After all, I think the whole purpose for the word prompt is to prompt writing. Mission accomplished. 🙂