Scripture for Today: Psalm 107: 13-14  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them.”

The French have an expression that makes me smile.  They use their word for “unchained” to express the idea of over-active, over-playful or hyper!  It is a great way to describe school children let go from their classes at the end of the day.  There is visible joy in being liberated at last!

There are all sorts of chains that hold people back.  My heart goes out to people seen on news reports who are bound and used because of evil men.  But there are spiritual chains as well.  Chains due to our own sin are the hardest to break.  One can be chained to a sinful habit without even being aware.  Some live their lives in the pursuit of personal freedom, rejecting whatever mores and values they feel restrain them.  They end up bound and tangled in their own sinful behavior, powerless to change things.

Our verse for today is a cry for freedom from bondage.  These people were bound because they rebelled against Him and His counsel.  There was nothing they could do to free themselves.  Yet God was gracious and saved them from their distress.

He is still doing it!  His grace is still unchaining those who cry to Him.  Satan would like one to believe that those chains are unbreakable.  But Christ’s sacrifice has broken the power of sin and death forever!  His love is unending and His grace is amazing!

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.  My God, my Savior has ransomed me.  And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace!”