By: Lauren Thomas
The guilt and shame of our pasts can drag us down. For those of us who have put our faith in Jesus, there is no condemnation. But sometimes our pasts still call to us, reminding us of what we’ve done, what we’ve said, who we’ve been, what’s been done to us. We know that in Christ, there is no condemnation, but it doesn’t always “feel” that way.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 ESV
Anything we carry around with us from our pasts that weighs us down, we refer to today as baggage. When we are carrying baggage, it’s hard to feel that we are free. We yearn for the lightness of freedom. Jesus set us free so we could be free!
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 ESV
But that baggage… Like a monster rearing its ugly head. Telling us we aren’t really free.
Our baggage holds us back from living the life of freedom and abundance that God calls us to. Our spiritual birthright is to be chosen, holy, royal (1 Peter 2:9). And yet, we often just hang out with our baggage.
Did you know, Israel’s first king literally did that?
When the Israelites asked for their first king, the prophet Samuel was ready to anoint Saul, the Benjaminite, but Saul was nowhere to be found…
21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
1 Samuel 10:21-22 ESV
Now, it would be bad Bible interpretation for me to say that this account is about Saul being held back by his baggage. Reading into Scripture our own cultural jargon isn’t good hermeneutics (interpretation of Biblical texts).
However, this is a thing! Am I right?
God has called you to something! (Just as God called Saul to be king). But you’ve got to stop hiding in your baggage! (Just as Saul was literally hiding among the baggage).
Stop believing that who you were then is who you are now.
Stop believing that God will run out of grace.
Stop believing that He can’t change you.
Stop believing that He isn’t calling you.
Stop hiding in your baggage! There’s better for you!
Reflection:
What is God calling you to?
How does “baggage” hold you back?
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