In the comic strip Pearls before Swine Andy the dog, who is always chained to a stake in his fenced-in-yard, writes to David Beckham. “You are a great soccer player! How can I be a great soccer player?” Soon receives a reply by letter. “Dear Andy…Practice! Practice! Practice!” Andy is next seen kicking a soccer ball. The ball falls just out of Andy’s reach. No matter how hard he strains on his chain he can’t reach the ball. He then writes another letter asking, “How else?”Andy needs someone one to set him free from his chain and the yard that is his prison.
One of the problems with religion is that no matter how hard we practice our religion will not set us free from missing God’s target for our life. Religion was the problem for those who confronted Jesus in John 8. No one could be more religious than the scribes and Pharisees. Yet, Jesus said, “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Jesus came to set us free from the sin to which we were chained. He said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” St. Paul adds, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” Don’t fall back into the slavery of practicing religion in order to be a great Christian.
How else do we become a great Christian? Trust Christ. He has set you free from the bondage to sin.
By Rev. Ronald Jansen
Dri
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