A boy born with cerebral palsy was unable to speak or communicate. But his mother, Chantal Bryan, never gave up, and when he was ten years old she figured out how to communicate with him through his eyes and a letter board. After this breakthrough, she said, He was unlocked and we could ask him anything. Now Jonathan reads and writes, including poetry, by communicating through his eyes. When asked what its like to talk with his family and friends, he said, It is wonderful to tell them I love them.
Jonathans story is profoundly moving and leads me to consider how God unlocks us from the prison of sin. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Colossae, once we were alienated from God (Colossians 1:21), our evil behavior making us His enemy, but through Christs death on the cross we are now presented to God as holy in his sight (v. 22). We may now live a life worthy of the Lord as we bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God, and are strengthened in His power (vv. 1011).
We can use our unlocked voices to praise God and share His good news that we are no longer bound to a life of sin. As we continue in our faith, we can hold firm to our hope in Christ.
INSIGHT
These few verses (Colossians 1:1323) in Pauls letter to the church at Colossae are a theological goldmine! In them we read about Jesuss relationship to GodHis kingship, redemption, and forgivenessand His role in creating and sustaining the universe. How amazing to see everything point to one thingour reconciliation to God (v. 22).
Why not praise God today for unlocking you from the prison of sin and reconciling you to Himself.