How many Christians are distressed with a spirit of bondage! Many long years, it may be, bowed down, never rising to the glorious height of their calling, they are in a sad state, and literally “bowed together” – their eyes always turned inwards or downwards, like this poor woman in Luke 13
Through Satan’s work she was bound; her disease was one of “infirmity;” its duration long—some eighteen years—so that she “could in no wise lift up herself.”
Christians in such a state are totally incapacitated from working for the Lord. They are “infirm” they cannot testify for Him; for who would admire the testimony of one “bowed double,” as it were, with this “spirit of bondage.” They know not a risen and glorified Christ-now in heaven—as their all-absorbing treasure. If they did, their hearts would be where He is, at God’s right hand; and they would consequently and of necessity be lifted up, straight to Him! for where the treasure is, there will the heart be also. (Luke 12:3434For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)) And the word of the Holy Spirit to us is, “If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affection (or mind) on things above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3) Ah! yes, if the heart be centered on things above, we may be pretty sure the eyes will be turned heavenwards, and the whole conduct and conversation will correspond. Satan’s great object against us is to rob us of the full enjoyment of our blessing. And, sad to say, he often succeeds in this. Many Christians are thus deprived, not only of their own joy and happiness, but of glorifying God. They lose the sense (if ever they enjoyed it) of the blessed truth that they have died with Christ, and are now a risen people. Consequently, instead of living as those who realize that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has broken the tie that once bound them to earth and self, they go mourning all their days—hanging their heads downwards, and necessarily their hands—with their eyes turned inwards, bemoaning the sin and corruption they find there, and groveling on the earth, seeing only its straws and dust, as if their hopes and expectations were from it, and as if they were a people which belonged to it.
Oh! how few of us really enter into the blessed fact that the cords that bound our hearts to earth are snapped by Jesus’ hand! —that we are a “peculiar people,” belonging to heaven, born from above, let down here for a “little while” to witness for Jesus, and soon to be “caught up” again—having the coming of Jesus as our heavenly hope-truly bright and blessed-a home with Him in the “Father’s House “as the only home we know. Oh! that home—of Love’s preparing! —our heavenly place of rest! There with Jesus! The Lord grant us grace that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may realize our calling—that here on earth we are but strangers and pilgrims journeying through a desert, but all the while citizens of heaven (according to Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)), all our glorious expectations being there. “Things on the earth “occupy those who have this spirit of bondage. Their minds are filled with thoughts of self or of the world; and so it must ever be, when their eyes are never turned heavenwards, to be dazzled with the glory which we should even now apprehend by faith.
O, soul bound thus by Satan under the sad power of this spirit of bondage, Jesus must be thy resource, even as He was to this poor woman “He called her.” Hearken now to His blessed voice calling thee, and mark what He says, for the power you need is in His very words— “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” Wondrous word! uttered by the Lord of Life and Glory, as He laid His hand upon her— “Thou art loosed.” And it is for thee, dear brother or sister in the Lord, who has been bound and harassed by Satan, it may be these many years, to know on the authority of Him who cannot lie, that “thou art loosed!” The death and resurrection of Jesus, on whom you believe, has already done its mighty work, and you are now free; “thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” Well, then, walk straight, with head erect, in perfect liberty, as a child of God, your eyes turned to Him, and rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ has made His people free! “If the Son shall make you free, then are ye free indeed.”
With this woman it was but a bodily ailment; with you it is far worse-it is an unhealthy state of soul. But hearing the words of Jesus, and being touched by His hand, she “immediately was made straight” Ah! now her eyes were no more turned inwards upon herself, or downwards upon the earth: now they looked to Jesus. And the result with her was the same as it would be with you (only with you in a much higher degree). Not only was she made happy herself, but she “glorified God.” Glory was brought to Him. The “religious” people of that day were displeased, and spake evil of the One who was now doubtless dear to her; but what did it matter-God was glorified!
H. W. T.