For our wedding we received a Betty Crocker stainless steel set of silverware.  After almost 23 years of wear and tear, a lost fork, and a couple of bent spoons, we purchased a new set.  As I prepared to wash our new utensils, I discovered that each of the 7 display pieces were bound to the box with what I thought were plastic clips.  “How difficult can this be?” I thought, as I slid the insert out onto the table.  Turning it over, I received my answer: 14 - 5” plastic coated wire twist ties seemingly more knotted than twisted.

Embarking on the tedious process, a thought raced through my mind: “There no one so bound that God cannot set them free.”  Task-oriented, I quickly assented: “Yeah… that’s cool,” and turned my attention back freeing to the twice-bound utensils.  But, the thought kept occurring.

After wrestling with a particularly stubborn twist tie, I paused to diffuse my mounting frustration.  I knew that if I yanked in impatience, or attempted an Edward Scissorhands move, I would probably damage the very thing I was trying to rescue.  So, sighing deeply, I began to gently lift, carefully pull and patiently untwist the wires.  Ah, progress!

Suddenly, that re-occurring thought made sense: this process was a picture of how God works in our lives, freeing us from earthly and spiritual bondages.  He doesn’t react in angry frustration, but instead, He frees us with extraordinary grace, lavish care, zealous diligence, and boundless patience.

One by one, each captive utensil set free was a fresh reminder of the grace of God: a celebration that He rescues; that He hears the cries of the needy and does not despise the captive (Psalm 69:33 NIV); and that His proclamation of freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Luke 4:18-21 NKJV) is still true today.

Surveying the two remaining bound utensils, the phrase based on Philippians 1:6 came to mind: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”  Prayers of gratitude turned to prayers of surrender, asking God to complete the work of freeing me from clinging to, or being held by, anything less than His best for me.  His response?  The phrase that began our conversation, personalized: “You are not so bound that I cannot set you free.”  Fresh faith and hope stirred in my heart and mind as I removed the last of the twist ties knowing that God will perfect that which concerns me (Psalm 138:8 AMP).

So, today, be encouraged with the Good News!  You are not so bound that God cannot set you free.  With extraordinary grace, lavish care, zealous diligence and boundless patience, as we surrender, He can and will untangle unholy ties, break chains and remove the things that bind – setting us free to be true serving utensils in His hands for His glory (Psalm 107:10-16)!