“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out…” (Acts 5:19, ESV)
The apostles had been arrested. They were brought to prison. But in the middle of the night, an angel breaks them out. When I read these words, I am reminded of Jesus words when he says:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19, ESV)
There are prisons that are literal and figurative. Maybe you feel trapped. Maybe you feel that the world is closing in around you. Maybe you feel that there is no way out. Maybe you live in bondage to debt, addiction, depression, or illness.
But Jesus came to proclaim freedom. There is no bondage that Jesus cannot free you from. It would have seemed there was no way out for the apostles, but God provided a miracle. The angel intervenes.
The key was that the disciples had put their lives in God’s hands. They allowed their future to be determined by the Lord. They lived as citizens of the kingdom more than citizens of this world.
Imagine if the angel had opened the prison doors, but the disciples continued to sit in their cell. They were given their freedom and they took hold of that freedom. But there are many of us that have been given our freedom, but we continue to live as prisoners. The prison doors have been thrown open, but we continue to sit in our cells.
Today is your independence day! Jesus has opened the prison doors. It’s time to walk out. Embrace your freedom in Christ!
Reflection
- Where are you experiencing bondage in your life?
- How has Jesus given you freedom?
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for freeing me from the bondage of sin. Thank you that I can walk in liberty. Give me the courage to live every day as a citizen of your kingdom. Amen.
Gary M Kessler says
One sentence jumped off the page at me: “They allowed their future to be determined by the Lord.” So hard to do.