Tangled Johnny

Tangled Johnny

Johnny’s cries got louder and louder. “What’s the matter with Johnny?” all the neighbors asked as they looked out their windows. Mrs. Graham lived next door, and could see the problem: a small boy all tangled up in some string.

TANGLED IN STRING

Johnny had taken his brother’s kite string and wrapped it round and round himself. Now he wanted to run and play with his friends, but couldn’t get loose. His friends tried to help. They pulled and twisted. They tugged and pushed. But the harder they tried, the more Johnny got caught in the string, and the more it hurt. Johnny cried louder.

Then Johnny’s mother came to the rescue. She cut through the string with her scissors and freed Johnny from the tangled mess. He was so happy! He never wanted to be tied up like that again.

TANGLED IN SIN

But Johnny didn’t know that every day he was getting more and more “caught in the cords of his sin” (Proverbs 5:22). No one could get him loose from these cords; not even his mother!

Like Johnny, all boys and girls have been tangled up in the cords of sin. Yet many are now free. They found that “if the Son (Jesus Christ) makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

HOW IT HURTS

When we sin and do bad things, we hurt ourselves and God. But God loves us so much, He made a way for us to be untangled from sin. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born in Bethlehem.

Jesus did only good things. He healed the sick and fed the hungry. He loved everyone. He told people how to get to heaven.

But the people did not want to give up their bad ways. They did not want to say, “Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for all my sins,” so they killed Him by nailing Him to a cross. Jesus could have stopped them, but if He did, we would have no way to be freed from our sins and we would never get to heaven. He died to save us.

GETTING UNTANGLED

Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? Then tell Him you are sorry for your sins. He will take them away. This is the only way you can be untangled from your sins. “Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). This is the only way you can get to heaven.

Talk to Jesus right now in prayer. Talk to Him everyday. He wants to help you stay free from sin.

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