In that wonderful story in John’s Gospel Chapter 11, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Notice that Lazarus was still bound with grave clothes when he came out of the tomb and so Jesus had to say: “loose him and let him go” (KJV). We as Christians are born again to new life in Christ but are often bound by grave clothes; these are the trappings, habits and behaviors of our old life. The word tells us we need to put off the old man and put on the new (Col 3:9). This means to allow God to change us so we no longer live like we did but walk in the new nature of Christ that lives in us (Gal 2:20).

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:1-2a). We are in a race, going on with God, allowing him to change us by his word and power day by day.

So, what do we have to do? We need to cooperate with God, spend time in his word and yield to the Holy Spirit as he gently convicts, encourages and changes us through our spirit (1 John 3:20). The journey is amazing, the results wonderful.

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