2 PETER 2:19

“promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”

Have you ever felt defeated and overcome? Who hasn’t at some time in their life? The Greek word for “overcome” is only used three times in the New Testament – here in this verse and in the next verse and also in 2 Corinthians 12:13. It means to be defeated or overcome, to be made to feel inferior. Have you ever felt that way? Be assured that is not of God.

The enemy wants to enslave you to those thoughts and feelings. God never wants us to feel inferior. He is in the building up business. Satan, on the other hand, makes it his goal to bring us down, to make us feel less than we were created to be. Do not be enslaved by those thoughts. Allow the Lord to break those chains of corruption. He wants you free.

APPLICATION

Play a game with your kids. Get some various size links of chain and label them with tags that name various sins we commit. Get some heavy chains if you can and even attach some weights to them. Start putting the chains on your kids, starting with the lightest weight. Once you put it on them, have them walk around the room. Add the additional links of chains and weight, each time having them walk the room.

Keep adding the chains and weights until they can’t walk anymore. Now they are getting the picture. The more sin we allow in our lives, the more we are weighted down. We can’t possibly walk with Christ as He intends with these heavy weights on us. The good news is He can remove them all with just the slightest word. Ask your child how they feel once all the chains are removed. I bet they will feel relieved.

Are you walking around right now weighted down and enslaved by your sins? Have you allowed others to draw you into a lifestyle of bondage? Break free today. Jesus has the ability to break any chains that bind you. Will you trust Him to do that today in your life?

Father, forgive me for wearing the chains of bondage. Break me free from any and all chains that bind me. I want to follow You.