Friday, April 18, 2008

Make Me a Captive Lord

Make me a captive Lord and then I shall be free
Force me to render up my sword and I shall conqueror be
I sink in life's' alarm when by myself I stand
Imprison me within Thine arms and strong shall be my hand
My heart is weak and poor until it's master find
It has no spring of action sure, it trembles with the wind
It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife
When on Thy bosom it is bent and found in Thee it's life
(Hymn quoted by Ravenhill. He didn't mention the author)
"Like the railroad. While the train runs there it's captive to the rails, but it's free to go to speed."
~Leonard Ravenhill
I want to be captivated by Him! The whole bond slave idea - free, but bound... It's hard to comprehend. This never made sense to me until I heard the quote above.. like a train - bound to the rails, doomed to wreck otherwise, but completely free to go as fast and as straight as I possibly can. Knowing that when I am BOUND to Him I will never miss the mark, just as a train has no choice but to reach the station at the end of the line.
Modern American Christianity has taught us that "freedom" is a goal - something to achieve in the Christian life. Questions like "Have you claimed your freedom?", "Are you free from _____ yet??" are asked - as if it's a one time occurrence. It seemed to me for years like it was an unobtainable goal, reserved only for the most "elite" in Christianity. But it's not. Freedom is something we walk in - constantly. If you are a Christian you are free. Period. Free from sin and bound to Christ. It's one of those things that's almost unutterable. You can't really explain it. I have this picture in my head of what it's like but I can't bring words to it! Paul tries to describe it in Romans with words that have made my head spin for years! But it's like today a light went off and I really got it. Free... like a kite is free.. Soaring in the wind but still held by a tether and controlled by my Master. There is so much security in that.
I think I've always interpreted the word "freedom" in the bible according to the worlds standard of what "freedom" is. And there is no comparison between the two concepts! When I step back and look at these seemingly "little" things I'm amazed that I never saw it that way before when it's so simply explained in the word of God. I look at it and go, "Wow.. that's so elementary." And it shows me that I'm only just beginning to learn the elementary things. The basics. All the "pat answers" are flying out the window. Here is evidence yet again of the Lord changing the way that I think... So now that I see it, I must walk in it. Repentance must always produce action...

3 comments:

Stephanie said...

Hi Bekah, thanks for stopping by my blog- I'm glad you enjoyed the post. :)
I really enjoyed reading about your "hiding places". I relate! When I was pretty little I used to crawl under my bed to get alone time...pretty crazy, but hey- it worked. As I grew older our woods became my favorite spot to get alone to pray, read my Bible, sing, or just think. I think its neat that Jesus used to steal away to be with God- He needed quiet too! Well....God bless you! I've enjoyed poking around your blog a bit. :)

Michael Cooper said...

good stuff! Praise God.

Anonymous said...

"Free... like a kite is free.. Soaring in the wind but still held by a tether and controlled by my Master."...what a beautiful picture!