You Will Be Free
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
My best friend in the fifth grade was Skip. He and I would spend as much time together as we could. We would ride bikes, play catch, build tree houses, and in general hang out. On rainy days we would play with Army men, fly paper airplanes, and in general, get under whichever mother’s foot happened to be around. We would share meals, stay over at each other’s house and do what best friends do – sometimes involving getting in trouble.
Skip’s dad was a beer distributor. It was very cool to have a friend that had kegs of beer in the garage. One nice summer day, Skip’s dad asked us to ride along with him as he made his deliveries to the bars and restaurants of the Chicago area. I, being a very dutiful son, called home to ask mom if she minded. She did and said I couldn’t go. Now I faced a dilemma – obey mom and stay home, or go with Skip and have a great adventure. I choose to go with Skip. I reasoned that I would be home before supper and mom would never know.
Oh did I have a grand time. I saw sights I will never forget. I ate in a restaurant with the “guys” and got to carry empty beer bottles up from a bar’s basement. It was a great day. Soon it came time to go home. I mounted my bicycle and headed towards the house. Mom met me at the door with, “How was your day?” “Fine,” I answered with my head down. “Dinner’s almost ready. Go and wash up.”
I dodged a bullet. Mom didn’t know I disobeyed her. After dinner I hurried away from mom. Soon it was bedtime. I washed up, brushed my teeth and headed for the bed. As I snuggled down between the sheets I prayed, “Thank you, God, for this day.”
But sleep would not come. I tossed and turned. I fretted. I had disobeyed my mom and it hurt. I tried to rationalize. I tried to make excuses. Nothing helped. I finally walked into the living room and confessed to mom. She hugged me and spoke the sweetest words a young boy could hear, “I forgive you.”
Our Heavenly Father forgives us, too. No matter what the sin, no matter what the excuse, He forgives us. Our sins enslave us – we are held captive by our pet sins. We don’t want to give them up, they weigh us down. God forgives. He frees us from the bondage of sin.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiveness of sins.
My best friend in the fifth grade was Skip. He and I would spend as much time together as we could. We would ride bikes, play catch, build tree houses, and in general hang out. On rainy days we would play with Army men, fly paper airplanes, and in general, get under whichever mother’s foot happened to be around. We would share meals, stay over at each other’s house and do what best friends do – sometimes involving getting in trouble.
Skip’s dad was a beer distributor. It was very cool to have a friend that had kegs of beer in the garage. One nice summer day, Skip’s dad asked us to ride along with him as he made his deliveries to the bars and restaurants of the Chicago area. I, being a very dutiful son, called home to ask mom if she minded. She did and said I couldn’t go. Now I faced a dilemma – obey mom and stay home, or go with Skip and have a great adventure. I choose to go with Skip. I reasoned that I would be home before supper and mom would never know.
Oh did I have a grand time. I saw sights I will never forget. I ate in a restaurant with the “guys” and got to carry empty beer bottles up from a bar’s basement. It was a great day. Soon it came time to go home. I mounted my bicycle and headed towards the house. Mom met me at the door with, “How was your day?” “Fine,” I answered with my head down. “Dinner’s almost ready. Go and wash up.”
I dodged a bullet. Mom didn’t know I disobeyed her. After dinner I hurried away from mom. Soon it was bedtime. I washed up, brushed my teeth and headed for the bed. As I snuggled down between the sheets I prayed, “Thank you, God, for this day.”
But sleep would not come. I tossed and turned. I fretted. I had disobeyed my mom and it hurt. I tried to rationalize. I tried to make excuses. Nothing helped. I finally walked into the living room and confessed to mom. She hugged me and spoke the sweetest words a young boy could hear, “I forgive you.”
Our Heavenly Father forgives us, too. No matter what the sin, no matter what the excuse, He forgives us. Our sins enslave us – we are held captive by our pet sins. We don’t want to give them up, they weigh us down. God forgives. He frees us from the bondage of sin.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiveness of sins.