Being wrongly tied to other people.
by David Cross
Many times in our lives we’ve followed instructions or advice from other people. Often this has been absolutely the right thing to do and the result was the provision and protection we needed for our lives.
Today’s verse tells us that when someone has authority over us in some way, it has an unseen, spiritual consequence. There can be a lasting tie, even as strong as the bond between a slave and his master. This may be a good or bad tie, depending on the quality of the relationship. When relationships are in godly order, the bonds between a husband, a wife, and their children, bring blessing and are life-giving. But when there has been domination, abuse, and intimidation in a family, the unseen and lasting ties bring ‘death’.
The mutual submission of our lives to one another in the Body of Christ establishes good ties. This allows us to act as a body which is well-jointed and co-ordinated, bringing about God’s plans and purposes on earth. Unfortunately relationships throughout our lives have not always been what God intended. When others have selfishly controlled us, or when we’ve wrongly surrendered ourselves to others, in an emotional or sexual liaison, unseen ties have been also been established, but these ones remain a source of spiritual bondage. They steal the abundant life which Jesus came to give us.
God desires that He alone should be our Master, directing and nurturing our lives. He will never coerce us into being His slaves, but He does give us the free will choice to respond to His unconditional love, and to serve Him for eternity.
Where other relationships, past or present, have tied us to wrong masters, freedom is available. We must repent of our own sin, forgive those who’ve had wrong authority over us, and ask the Lord to release us from spiritual captivity. Today is a good day to seek freedom from the ties of the past.
Prayer: Lord, where wrong relationships from the past are still holding me in bondage today, I ask you forgive me for my part in those relationships and help me to forgive those who have hurt me. Then, Lord, set me free to serve you all my days. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
