The offer of freedom to indulge our every whim is only as free as all the other offers we don’t believe. Those who taste its fruits become enslaved in dysfunctional relationships and addictive behaviours.
To these slaves, the Lord calls-
Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck. (Isaiah 52:2 NLT)
How are we supposed to remove the chains? If it was down to us we would fail, but the Lord promises intervention.
I can redeem you without having to pay for you.” (Isaiah 52:3 NLT)
The price of freedom has been paid by Jesus. The question is, am I willing to take the challenge of faith that he presents.
Get out! Get out and leave your captivity, where everything you touch is unclean. Get out of there and purify yourselves. (Isaiah 52:11 NLT)
The way to freedom is easy. It only requires us to act on a choice to leave everything that has held us and everything that is unclean. It may seem hurtful and uncaring to those we leave behind, but the Lord justifies and he transforms the circumstances so that ultimately the road to freedom will be acknowledged as the road of love.
You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind. (Isaiah 52:12 NLT)
The Lord offers to protect those who are willing to go with him and we follow him to a place of honour.
The Bible study for Isaiah 52