Don’t Live As A Puppet To Sin
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
What is it that we are freed from?Being in ministry for almost Thirty years, many with children, I’ve worked with puppets a fair bit. The puppet only does whatever you decide it should do. We don’t have to live as puppets to sin. God gives us free will to choose to play whatever part we wish to play. So, when the word says, “the truth will set us free”, what are we free from?
John 8:33-36
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
One of the most discouraging things we Christian’s deal with is believing the lie that we can’t be freed from specific sins. We live with guilt and shame and feel like addiction to these sins is just something we have to live with. That’s a lie from the pit of hell. Knowing the truth personally is our way to be free from the addiction of sin and the guilt and shame that follows.Guilt steals our joy and causes depression. It causes illness and often leads to isolation. I think of the line from a song we sing at church that talks about King David being freed from the guilt of his sin (Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation). God can restore our joy. We don’t have to live with the stain of shame, God will wash us clean if we hold to His teaching (John 8:31). It start with confession. Are we willing to humble ourselves and confess our sins to God?
1 John 1:9
If we tell Him our sins, He is faithful and we can depend on Him to forgive us of our sins. He will make our lives clean from all sin.
Getting a clear conscience is a like coming up for air after a deep dive while holding your breath. So, let’s breath in deep, the joy God’s forgiveness. I’m so thankful that when God forgives our sins, he keeps no record of our wrongs. So Don’t let Satan treat you like his puppet, we are free, in Christ so let’s enjoy our freedom from sin.
Spend some time now confessing your sin to God, and then know that you are forgiven.