Have you ever locked yourself out of your house or your car? Do you get that feeling of Oh, No! How stupid can I be?? Your day is halted, right there and nothing will move forward until you get a key! In Bible times prisoners were kept in chains with a great lock and key for a closure. Huge heavy chains that were too heavy to carry out to freedom. In the Carol, ‘O, Holy Night’, we hear, “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.” Slavery has always been a part of the human story. Some say more so today than any other time with all the human trafficking that is experienced all over the world. But no key needed there! Chains will be broken by His NAME!! We can do all the social and political actions, and maybe make some difference, but it is going to take His NAME to finally break those chains and stop oppression. And who bears His NAME? CHRISTians bear his name, and only when the people in the church who claim the name of Christ change hearts and attitudes will those chains be broken.
I have had the privilege of international travel, and not only do I hear racial bigotry, but nationalistic bigotry from one country to another. I have seen a lady refused entrance to a hotel because of her nationality while they were checking in a man with a prostitute. I have heard from the mouths of fellow CHRISTians slurs against bordering neighbor countries. We should be different. We need to break those chains of superiority in our own hearts and look at others with the eyes if Christ. Caring, compassionate, loving eyes break chains, heal and show Christ. No key needed when Christ breaks the chain!! There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain!