Ezra was born in slavery on a cotton plantation in the 1800. At the conclusion of the Civil War, his gave him and others their freedom. Some milled around trying to decide their next step. Some shouted for joy and left the plantation immediately. Ezra, now nearing his 70th birthday, turned on his heels and walked right back into the same field he had been working since he was a child and resumed his work. While the fact of his freedom made him free, there was no freedom in his condition. Since he was a young boy — his security was in his enslavement. His owner took care of him and met his basic needs. The fact is—his new found freedom was as foreign to him as another language. And while he was free, he was still enslaved. Someone might have said to Ezra, “If you walk in freedom, you will never have to serve a master again.” And while Ezra may have heard these words, inside he wouldn’t have been able to put his faith in them. Why? Because of how he thought. Fast forward to today, November 4, 2024, your owner has declared you free. Let’s read Romans 6: 5-6 together which says, “Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” Someone might say to you, “If you walk in freedom, you will never have to serve a master again.” And like Ezra you may hear the words, but inside you can’t put your faith in them. Why? Because of how you think. In Chapter 4 of the Blueprint for Life curriculum, I Think. I Can., it states, “Your level of belief is often the only thing that holds you where you are. One of the first objectives in creating your life blueprint is to lift the lid on your level of belief. Your own level of belief is likely to be the biggest limitation in terms of discovering all that God has in store for you.”

Reflection:

  1. In what ways can you identify with Ezra?
  2. What are some areas in your life where you need the renewing of your mind?
  3. Where do you need to be set free?

Additional Resources

The Blueprint for Life eight week study will help you discover the life you were born to live.  The study contains a goal setting workbook;  and ten messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. Now available for digital download.  Click here to check it out!