So … a question for you today. Given a choice, would you prefer to live the rest of your life with your hands and feet shackled in chains, or would you rather be free? You’d think, wouldn’t you, that the answer’s obvious?

And yet, obvious though it may be, so many people – men and women, young and old, Christians and not – choose to remain shackled in the chains of unforgiveness.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Berni, we talked about forgiveness just the other day. Why are we circling back to it again today?” Answer; because as destructive and restrictive as the shackles of unforgiveness is, forgiving people is really, really hard.

Because instinctively, we want to hang onto the injustice until justice is done. So we think on that terrible, unfair thing that that person did to us way back when, and the more we allow it to dominate us, the more bitter we become, and the tighter the shackles feel. It’s a vicious circle.

But Christ came to set you free. If the Son makes you free then you are free indeed. Christ came to give you victory – over your sin, over your circumstances and ultimately over your death. So, if you’ll allow me to, I want to speak that word of freedom (His freedom), that word of victory (His victory) into your heart today.

Because the word of God is alive and active. Are you ready?

Ephesians 4:31,32 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

May the Holy Spirit write that word on your heart. Because

it’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.