Inky the octopus saw his chance and broke for freedom. In 2014, fishermen found Inky, a small octopus (roughly the size of a volleyball) trapped in a crayfish pot and severely injured. The fishermen delivered Inky to New Zealand’s National Aquarium. Though Inky seemed to adjust to his new home, one of the curators observed how they needed to “keep Inky amused” or he’d get bored.
Apparently, he got quite bored. Even more, he yearned for the freedom of the open waters. Maintenance staff accidentally left a small opening in the top of his tank, and Inky made a break for it. The next morning, aquarium staff found a trail of suction marks across the floor, leading to a small pipe that drained into the Pacific Ocean. Inky got a whiff of ocean air, and he was gone!
The yearning for freedom compels all of us. We may be trapped by sorrowful memories, by relentless addictions, by fears or false ideas or the opinion of others. We may be trapped by poverty or systems of injustice. We may be tempted to believe there’s no way to break loose. Still, in deep places, we hope that somehow we might one day break free.
The psalmist wrote, “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5). “The Lord is for me,” he insists, “so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me” (Psalm 118:6-7). With God, freedom is always possible. And when God makes us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36).
In Jesus, we find true freedom. When we say yes to Christ, yes to the kingdom of God, we make a break toward freedom, toward light, toward our healing. When we run toward God, we run toward life.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 9:8–10:29
More:
Read Romans 8:15. What words does Paul use to describe us when we are not moving toward freedom in Jesus?
Next:
Where are you experiencing a need for freedom—where do you feel trapped? What would hold you back from receiving Jesus’ liberation today, from obeying Jesus and breaking free?
ng on February 8, 2017 at 5:12 am
Thank you very much Winn for today’s devotion.
Gary Shultz on February 8, 2017 at 6:44 am
Hi Winn: I guess we all at times feel like Inky. Although all lines can’t be drawn like Inky’s situation, we are much different in many respects, which I’m sure you understand. In life feeling trapped, at least for me, is a warning that self has kicked in. Our gaze does not include council from the Father or other wise individuals, who live victorious. We once again forget, His ways are not our ways. We forget God has our best, very best, none greater or better, interests at heart, we just stop trusting. Our faith is choked and we look somewhere else to fill the panic we have now created. We forget God asks to be patient, to trust Him, to endure, to be faithful and obedient. So when we get the “Inky sneaks” we are usually in trouble. I know you referenced a lot to those who are looking and have not trusted Christ. But, in Christ is the freedom they have been looking for because it starts with freedom of the soul, not just the body. Thanks Winn
Winn Collier on February 8, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Yeah, I was really referencing the freedom we all need, those of us who have acknowledged faith and those of us who aren’t there yet. We all need this freedom, and we have to keep turning to God for this freedom continually.
faithalpher on February 8, 2017 at 9:40 am
First of all thank you for this opportunity to share. I definitely need to be completely free from NOT budgeting the correct way. Something that we’ve struggled with for a long time, however after reading this devotional AND being extremely prayerful, we’ve decided to make freedom our choice. Freeing ourselves from shameful thinking and always having an excuse. We’re preparing ourselves for a budget and the manifestation of what God is going to do.
Thanks soooooooo much for this rich devotional. Priceless.
Winn Collier on February 8, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Thank you. Those shaming voices will do us in every time.
Tom Felten on February 8, 2017 at 1:28 pm
Winn, I was talking with some friends about this issue last night. It can be so easy to think that freedom is found apart from God and His ways. But what I’ve experienced and witnessed is the opposite. When we run from God to satiate whatever desire is welling up within us, ultimately it leads to pain and destruction. It leads to bondage. May we run toward Jesus and true freedom found in Him!