2 Timothy 2:26 – And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (NIV)

Fluttering back and forth on a little swing in the gilded birdcage, my cousin's canary sang in trills and tweets. The yellow bird and his song were limited to one location and he could swing on only one tiny apparatus. His bright song brought smiles to many faces, even though he didn't realize that he was trapped. For a short time, he merrily sang his tunes as he lived out his brief life in the cage.

Before we invite Christ into our lives, we are caged by an illusion of freedom that the enemy of God uses to entice us. That lifestyle does nothing to please the Lord. We are offered a way out of that prison through a gift of love from Jesus. He gave His life for us. He gently calls us out of the enemy's trickery so that we won't be separated from God throughout eternity. With Christ as our Saviour, our sins are forgiven, and we have eternal life.

Once released from the devil's grasp, we fly out of the cage door and soar to the heights, singing songs of praise to our Lord. We obediently and lovingly fulfill God's purpose for us, powered by the victory of Jesus. Christ defeated sin and death when He died on the cross and rose again. Upon acceptance of His ultimate gift –– salvation –– we receive our eternal citizenship in heaven. This kind of liberation brings us great joy as we do God's will, no longer influenced and bound by the enemy, but encircled by the loving presence of God. Are we living in a cage or in the freedom of Christ?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for delivering us from the gilded caged illusion so that we can turn away from our old nature. With great joy, we run swiftly to a new life, forever into the open arms of Jesus. Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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