“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10
Cuffs attached > Death attached.
It’s not it’s own. It doesn’t define.
It has no extra value.
Something in which it’s only benefit is to hold together what’s not wanted to come apart. Or loose. It contains a person. It creates obstacles and produces barriers. Hindering the ability to move. Mentally. Physically.
We are chained to:
Emotions
Identity
The past
Money
Sex
Ourselves
Approval or acceptance
A title
We go and give ourselves away to things that are only gonna make us greedy for more. But God goes and he redeems us. Because we are cuffed to things we will never have the key of. Satisfaction isn’t offered or represented. And if it is it doesn’t last long. It’s because a little taste can eventually lead to being chained to the world. It’s easy to linger around but hard to fight against.
My identity is Christ. It’s for Christ. It is Jesus Christ. But when two dominant things collide. Me seeking me. Flesh will land me in demolished contemporary comfort. Spirit will land me in the comfort zone of the trusting and seeking God. My flesh runs to the world. Spirit runs to the arms of the Father. My flesh will run to things that catch the eye. My spirit will run to the things that catch the heart. Flesh will run to the things accessible. While Spirit will dig up the truth to resolve the issue at below roots base. While flesh will bury the truth spite of reputation.
When clinging to identity it’s where your heart is at. Where your mind is set. And what your mouth speaks.
The things that impact you the most are most likely what had the biggest impact on the chains being attached.
Family situations
Friends
“That certain place”
Self thoughts
The list certainly goes on, but you know what grasp you so tightly and what you’ve already let go.
It’s the chains that once held us down that now motivates us to move towards the race set before us!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
God has a relentless Mercy towards us. Find your identity in him, he has the key to all the problems to all the chains attached and the ones to come.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
Galatians 2:20-21
The Pursuit Of Shalom 