Straighten Up

June 21

(Luke 13:10-13,16 NIV) “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, {11} and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. {12} When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." {13} Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God… {16} should not this woman… whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free… from what bound her?"”

(Isaiah 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

(John 8:36 NIV) “… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

As Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, a woman entered who had been “crippled by a spirit”.  For eighteen years, this poor woman had been bound by Satan in a stooped over position, looking down at the ground, unable to look up at the sky, or to look anyone in the eye. She hadn’t stopped coming to church, even though God hadn’t healed her. But she had learned to live with it. She had gotten used to a spirit controlling her life. All that changed when Jesus noticed her, called her, touched her, and freed her. He laid hands on her, told her to straighten up, and she was set free. Jesus can still do that today. Spirits can cripple us and humiliate us. What have you learned to live with that has you bent over and looking down? Is it an attitude, or a bitter spirit, or perhaps a sin you cherish? Jesus is here to set you free. Let Him touch you. Bow no longer to the spirits. Straighten up! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day