Unhindered

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
~Gal. 5:1

So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
{John 8:36>

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
~Heb 12:2

Yesterday i was attending Atlantafest - a Christian music festival near Atlanta, GA. a young man had on a shirt which simply stated "unhindered" across the chest. i want to be unhindered, but...

...life happens. i slip and fall. i allow the sin which so easily entangles to hinder my walk. my focus drops from Christ to ME and i'm torn asunder by the prince of this world. and yet, no matter what i do, i have been set free from the bondage of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.

in john 8:1-11 there's an awesome example of this exact thing. the pharisees (the religious teachers) caught a woman in the act of adultery. they were all convinced that this woman should be killed for her unlawfulness. Jesus takes a minute to collect his thoughts (unlike me who immediately attempts to defend myself), and says, "if any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." first the older men left, then the younger ones. Jesus then looks into the eyes of this "sinful" woman and says, "woman, where are you from? has no one condemned you?" and she answers, " no one, Sir." and Jesus response? "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

nothing like shaking in your shoes. she knew that she deserved death, but Jesus pardoned her. He can pardon us also. this is the reason we call Him, "The God of Second Chances".

Amazing Jesus, let my sin be revealed to me. let me no longer live a life of sin. i need pardoning, and only You are capable of it. build within me a desire to loath sin so that i may not be tempted to fall into it. yet have me be sensitive to gently draw others who have stumbled back to You.
In Christ's Holy Name - Amen