Saturday, February 4, 2017
John 8:36 If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
FREE INDEED!
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. One day he spied Grandma's pet duck. On impulse he took aim and fired. He hit the target, and the duck fell dead. In panic, he quickly hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn't you, Johnny?" Leaning over to him she whispered, "Remember the duck!" So Johnny did the dishes. Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That's all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it." And she whispered again, "Remember the duck, Johnny." So Johnny stayed and Sally went fishing. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, finally he couldn't stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he'd killed the duck. "I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make you a slave."
Sin leads to slavery, the slavery of guilt. Guilt, in turn, subjects us to a miserable life of trying to hide and cover up our wrong-doings, our lies, our failures. It causes us to live in fear, thinking that someone might discover who we really are and what we've really done.
How can a sinner be free? Only one way! Only the Son of God can set us free. He sets us free, not only from the horrible bondage of guilt, but also from the death and hell we all deserve because of our sins. He set us free by taking on our guilt and suffering our hell on Calvary's cross.
"If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed!"
