Shed Your Grave Clothes (part two)

When Lazarus came forth, he was now alive, but he still had a hindrance. John11:44 says, “and he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Lazarus was hindered by his grave clothes he was alive, but he had a hindrance. Think abut this for a moment: How many of us are saved, alive in Jesus Christ, and we are still struggling with our “grave clothes”? How many of us are still dealing with something from our past? We are alive! We are spiritually alive in Christ and yet we allow our grave clothes to hold us back.
I continued to read: Lazarus has now, “Shed his grave clothes” and Jesus has said, “let him go”.
A lot of Jews saw what had happened and believed in Jesus, they were saved. However, some of the Jews went and told the Pharisees what had happened. The Pharisees saw this as a threat to their power. To protect their power, they decided to kill Jesus and Lazarus. It seems that where ever Lazarus went, he was well known and many Jews became saved. Those that opposed Jesus now opposed Lazarus. They saw Lazarus as a danger to them because of his testimony of what Jesus had done for him. Jesus had given him life.
Lazarus only became a danger when he fully shed his grave clothes. Are you a danger to those that oppose Jesus? If you are not a danger to sin, why aren’t you? Are you tangled in your grave clothes and being held back? Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go” John 11:44. Jesus called you to “come forth”, be saved. Jesus has also said of you, “Loose him/her, and let him/her go”. The only way you can still have grave clothes binding you is if you won’t let them fall to the ground.
You are spiritually alive. You are no longer spiritually dead. When you stop hanging onto your grave clothes you will begin to truly live, you will be a dangerous man or a dangerous woman. It is your choice. What are you going to do?
Just one more thought: When Jesus died on the cross for you and for me, was buried and raised from the dead, where were Jesus’ grave clothes? John 20:5-7 tells us that Jesus’ grave clothes were left behind in the tomb. Jesus did not take anything from our past, yours or mine with Him. All our sins were dealt with at the cross.
Take a moment, pray and ask the Lord to show you anything that you need to leave behind. What He shows you, give it to the Lord. Shed your grave clothes.

Bro Dan