John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
There’s an old story about a traveling salesman from the city driving to the country to make new costumers. As he was driving down a dusty, gravel road, he saw a dog running next to his car doing flips and rolling around on the ground with joy.
He thought, for a moment, that it might be some kind of show dog; however, as he slowed down, he could see it wasn’t even a normal looking dog. It had a badly disfigured leg and gruesome scars all over its body. Fascinated by the strange site, he pulled over and had his lunch watching the “unique” country dog. A few moments passed, and the salesman noticed a farmer come by and give the dog some food and water.
The salesman spoke up, “Excuse me sir, I’ve been here watching your dog do all kinds of tricks. How did he learn to be so acrobatic; is he a circus dog?” The farmer replied, “No, I was out checking my rabbit traps one day in the woods and I heard this terrible sound coming from the distance. I followed the sound and found this dog bleeding and tied to a tree left to die. I freed him and brought him home with me. I cleaned him up real good, tended to his wounds and gave him all the food he could eat. Ever since then he has been the happiest dog in town. Whenever he sees people, he starts leaping and rolling over, because he knows he’s free!”
You and I were just like that wounded and abandoned dog when Jesus found you. We were tied to the tree of our sin and left by the devil to die.
A man once said, “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”
Jesus came to set you free from sin so you could live a new life filled with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Don’t let your current troubles or issues make you feel down, depressed or ashamed. Remember who you were before you met Jesus and start praising Him for your freedom. Jesus died on the cross to set you free from all your sins so you could live free!
Reflection
Do you believe Jesus set you free from the devil and all your sins; along with your guilt and shame?
Action
- Search your heart to see if you are committing sins.
- Confess and repent of all the sins the Lord shows you.
- Guard your freedom and joyfully live the new life Jesus has given you! (Psalm 51:12)
