To Be Free Indeed

I bless you today
With Jesus’ deep promise:
“If the Son sets you free,
You will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Free indeed.

Not an appearance of freedom,
Not a cast-off-restraint parody of freedom,
Not a prodigal-squander-your-inheritance of phony freedom,
Not a don’t-let-anyone-tell-you-what-to-do caricature freedom,
But authentic freedom—
Jesus’ own freedom.

Free indeed…
From the power of sin…
From the angst of shame…
From the tyranny of the law.

Be free,
Child of God,
In Christ,
Free indeed.