This year was the first year in forever that I didn’t get to church for easter. I felt like I’d missed celebrating something of great significance. I was disappointed and FOMO had certainly settled in.
But as I considered the death and resurrection of my beloved Jesus I was reminded that nothing could hold Jesus down. Death couldn’t hold Him, Satan couldn’t hold Him, the tomb couldn’t hold Him, He was irrepressible!
God brought to mind another resurrection that Jesus was involved in…Lazarus. After 4 days in the tomb, John 11:43 says that ‘Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus come out!” The dead man came out, His hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen.’
Today Jesus calls my name, and He calls your name. He calls us out of darkness, He calls us out of bondage, He calls us out of fear, He calls us out of hiding, of living small, He calls us out of brokenness. He is calling your name today. From all the things that hold you down, that keep you bound.
He’s calling out things in us that we’ve buried, dreams, hopes, godly desires. He’s speaking life into the dead places, light into the darkness.
And just like Lazarus, He tells us to take off the grave clothes, because we’ve been walking around in shame and fear and striving, things that Jesus died to set us free from.
We need to throw off the grave clothes, throw off all that hinders. Let go of the lies we’re believing, the unforgiveness we’ve been caring, the worries that consume us.
And walk forward in the freedom Jesus has for us. Walk forward in the truth of who we are. Walk forward into the hopes and dreams and purposes God has for us.
John 10:10 says that ‘the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The Message version says ‘real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed.’
What has the thief been stealing from you?
Can you hear Jesus calling your name today?
What grave clothes is He calling you to throw off as you step into the freedom and power of that glorious easter morning?
Jesus resurrection is our resurrection. He paid the price to set us free. He calls us forward into a full and real and better life than we had ever dreamed of. May you hear His voice calling your name today.
Blessings!
Tammy
Abide 
another timely reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made so we can indeed be free.Thank you Tammy
LikeLike