John 8:31-36 – “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  NKJV

You can be in chains and not be a slave or be enslaved without bonds.  Chains do not determine Freedom; the heart and mind do.  Unfortunately, nothing we do will eradicate human bondage, and men will enslave other men against their will in the natural realm.  I can only imagine the physical, mental, and even spiritual torture that being captive brings.  My heart breaks for anyone who has endured that condition, either as a prisoner of war, a human slave against their will, a hostage, or anything of the like. 

I know two men who, though captives, were never enslaved in their hearts and minds.  One was a Japanese prisoner during WWII who escaped. The Vietnamese held the other in Hanoi and endured years of horrific, inhumane torture and abuse.  Both professed that their faith in God and belief in the Word of God kept them Free though in chains.  They were and are examples of True Freedom!

The only True Freedom is through the shed blood of Jesus and the Grace of God.  If we receive the forgiveness of sin and are born again, we experience True Freedom!  A person thusly free can be imprisoned, chained, and otherwise enslaved physically, but they will never be a Slave in their heart or mind because the Son has set them free!

We celebrate our Independence in America, yet multiplied thousands are still enslaved in one form or another.  Enslavement of the mind is possibly worse than being enslaved in the flesh, for if a person’s mind is captive, the attitude and actions will reflect that condition.  Breaking free and living life to the full is virtually impossible because the mind is in chains to wrong thinking, victimization, and false premises.  But if we receive the Freedom that Jesus came and brought, we cannot be enslaved.  Remember, if God is for us, who can be against us? As a friend of mine likes to say, “what difference does it make, who is against us if God is for us?”

God bless you! In Jesus, you are FREE, so Live Free!