Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

A sister and her little brother went to spend the Summer with their grandparents. The Grandfather made a slingshot for the boy and told him he could have it if he promised never to shoot rocks at people or animals. The boy made a solemn promise, and the next days were spent firing rocks at trees and cans and make believe enemies. Then one morning, far across the pond, he saw his grandmother’s pet duck. Not really aiming, he let a rock fly. It arched through the air and hit the duck squarely on the head, killing it instantly. The little boy, fearing the wrath of his grandparents, looked for a place to hide the dead duck. He thought the woodpile next to the barn would conceal his crime perfectly. No sooner had he finished hiding the duck there when he saw his sister watching him from the front porch. She said, “Lunch is ready, Johnnyyyy!” The way she held out his name let him know she had seen everything.

All through lunch he sat silently. His food sat in his stomach like lead. He waited for his sister to reveal his secret, but she just smiled and ate her sandwich. Then grandmother asked, “Sally, will you help with the dishes?” “I would, Grandma, but Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?” He was thinking about whether or not he should protest, but his sister walked past, leaned over and whispered, “Remember the duck!” Right then, he knew bad days were ahead.

The next week was a nightmare for Johnny. He skipped a fishing trip so he could make supper. He ‘graciously’ let Sally lick out the fudge pan by herself. After many days of doing his sister’s chores, he couldn’t take it anymore. “Grandma,” he tearfully confessed. “I didn’t mean to, but I killed your duck.” “I know,” she said, hugging him. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. But I had to wait until you were ready to come to me and ask forgiveness. I wondered how long you would let your sister keep you a slave.”

Years ago I read an article by Dr. Wallace Schulz of The Lutheran Hour. He wrote about a man who at the age of 19 had been tried and convicted of a double murder and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. After 30 years behind bars, the guilty prisoner was granted freedom by the governor. This was fantastic news. However, during his many days behind bars, and even after he was pardoned by the Governor, the devil kept reminding him of his past sins. The only way he could find any peace was to read and reread the official document from the governor announcing the Good News of His pardon. No matter how often he read it, the message of his pardon brought joy to his heart.

That is you and I should feel each time we read or hear the Gospel, the Good News of what Jesus did to set us free from our sin. We are just as much in bondage to our sin as that man was is prison, but we are not as aware of our predicament as that convicted man was. We all rightly deserve the death penalty because of our sins. If we really understood how totally our sins condemn us before God and how hopeless our situation is without Christ, you and I would be eager to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ again and again and again.

He comes the prisoners to release in Satan’s bondage held
The gates of brass before Him burst, the iron fetters yield.
(The Lutheran Hymnal #66 stanza 2)