Unbound (part 1)

In our student ministry we started a new series last night entitled "Unbound". It is based upon the passage of scripture found in Luke 4:14-21

¹⁴ Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. ¹⁶ So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
¹⁸ “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

²⁰ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

I love the fact that we have a savior that said he came to heal the brokenhearted! Jesus in this passage communicates that God wants His people to live lives that are UNBOUND. Even though this is His desire, the truth is that many people live lives that are bound up. One area that many deal with: areas of brokenness.

Brokenness can come from different places: brokenness caused by others, brokenness caused by ourselves (inflicted from difference choices and decisions) and brokenness caused by disappointment. No matter what it stems from, I truly believe that Jesus came to heal the areas of brokenness in our lives, so that we are able to live WHOLE.

Why do we allow brokenness to remain in our lives when we have experienced the love and grace of God? Many are either unwilling to face the pain of that brokenness or don't have the ability to know where to start dealing with it. But we cannot fix what we are unwilling to face. Ignoring it won't help. And the truth is that even when God pours into us, if we allow areas of brokenness and fracture to remain without being mended by Jesus, what is poured into us will slowly leak out - leaving us empty and dry.

Jesus said "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). The Truth He communicated to us in Luke 4 is that He came to heal the brokenhearted. If there are areas of brokenness that you face - allow the healer to bring wholeness where there is brokenness.