If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 (World English Bible)
John 8:36 (World English Bible)
Introduction
As you observe this work, visualize the marionette as representative of all humanity as well as of each of us individually.
Questions to Consider
Do you think the man is aware of the strings and the forces that are manipulating him?
Do you think the man started out this way, manipulated by the skeleton hand?
The wounded hand is poised to cut the strings, but He is not doing anything yet. Why not? What’s He waiting for?
The scissors are poised around one string. When the hand cuts with the scissors, will He cut just the one string or all?
When the marionette is free from the manipulating control of the strings, will he live as a free man? Or has he grown so accustomed to the constant, invisible pull of the strings that he will grope for bondage?
Call to Action
Picture in your mind the movie of the life of the marionette. See his birth in the delivery room coming out with strings attached. As he grows he is on the playground with other children all with strings attached. He starts working; strings attached. He retires and eventually dies. If you were to write the movie of the marionette, at what point would he experience freedom from the strings?
Place yourself as the main character in the movie you just visualized.
Final Thoughts
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
Luke 4:18 (World English Bible),
Jesus reading from the prophet Isaiah about himself
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
John 8:32 (World English Bible)
Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 (World English Bible)
As you observe this work, visualize the marionette as representative of all humanity as well as of each of us individually.
Questions to Consider
Do you think the man is aware of the strings and the forces that are manipulating him?
Do you think the man started out this way, manipulated by the skeleton hand?
The wounded hand is poised to cut the strings, but He is not doing anything yet. Why not? What’s He waiting for?
The scissors are poised around one string. When the hand cuts with the scissors, will He cut just the one string or all?
When the marionette is free from the manipulating control of the strings, will he live as a free man? Or has he grown so accustomed to the constant, invisible pull of the strings that he will grope for bondage?
Call to Action
Picture in your mind the movie of the life of the marionette. See his birth in the delivery room coming out with strings attached. As he grows he is on the playground with other children all with strings attached. He starts working; strings attached. He retires and eventually dies. If you were to write the movie of the marionette, at what point would he experience freedom from the strings?
Place yourself as the main character in the movie you just visualized.
- Where are you in this movie?
- Are you free?
- Have you been free, yet the familiarity of the strings has you living as though you are not?
- Are you living in partial freedom?
Final Thoughts
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
Luke 4:18 (World English Bible),
Jesus reading from the prophet Isaiah about himself
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
John 8:32 (World English Bible)
Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 (World English Bible)