April 26: Unbound
New life is real, but sometimes you walk out of the tomb still wrapped in grave clothes.
“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
Lazarus had been dead four days. His sisters had given up hope. People were weeping. And Jesus stood outside the tomb and called with a loud voice: Lazarus, come out.
He came out. Alive. But he was still wrapped from head to foot, with a cloth around his face. He could barely see, barely walk.
Then Jesus said something easy to miss. He turned to the people standing there and said: free him, and let him go.
Jesus gave the life. Only He could do that. But He gave the unwrapping to the people around Lazarus.
That’s a picture of recovery. God gives the new life. You’re not drinking today, and that’s a resurrection miracle. But a lot of old stuff still clings to you. Resentments wrapped tight. Fears around your eyes so you can’t see clearly. Habits that tangle your feet.
Your inventory is a way of unwrapping. And it’s not meant to happen alone. Your sponsor, your pastor, your friends in recovery, your church: these are the people Jesus tells to help you get free. Next month, in Step Five, you’ll let one of them see the whole inventory. That’s part of the unwrapping too.
The resurrection season reminds everyone of this. Christ is risen, and death doesn’t have the final word. That means the dead parts of your life aren’t the end of your story either.
If this is a weekend, it might be a good day to rest and to remember that you’re alive. Go for a walk. Go to church. Call someone who has helped unwrap you and thank them.
It takes humility to stand there wrapped up and let others help. Most people would rather unwrap themselves in private. But Lazarus couldn’t. And neither can you, not fully. That’s not weakness. It’s how God designed His people to work.
One thing today
Write down one grave cloth you’re still wearing: a resentment, fear or habit. Tell one person about it and ask them to pray with you.
A prayer
Jesus, You called me out of a kind of death. Thank You for new life. Some old things still cling to me. Use the people around me to help unwrap them, and let me walk free. Amen.
Read about Step Four.
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