“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

One of my all-time favorite Tom Petty songs tells me I belong somewhere I’ll feel free. Freedom. That loaded word looks different to each of us, especially to popular culture and the believer. Popular culture often sees the religion, not the relationship, and considers Jesus-followers as cultists or fools bound to a ball and chain. This point-of-view is not new. Even King David of the Old Testament observed, “the kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles’” (Psalm 2:2). As if we were prisoners.

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Christianity’s sympathizers admit to the good of subscribing to the teachings of such a man as Jesus, but even that misses the mark. To follow Jesus is to be free. To be free from sin (Galatians 5:1) so that we might “serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13). To follow Jesus is life, abundantly (John 10:10). It is not a one-sided experience, not like a worshiper partitioned off from the Holy. To follow Jesus is to be pursued.

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Like a shepherd in search of a lost sheep, he searches the dark valleys to find us. Like a woman in search of her lost coin, he will not rest until we are found. Like a father reunited with a runaway son, he will celebrate when we return to him.

Upon returning to God, it feels like we owe him an explanation for running from him. It feels like we should work to pay off the inheritance we took from him and recklessly squandered. Like the lost son we rehearse the speech. Like a dog with his tail between his legs we approach him covered in shame. After all, this is how the world views our religion - a manic ritual of rules and shame.

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But He takes our shame and clothes us with His honor. He celebrates, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24). He frees us of our sin, our shame, and our debt and welcomes us home - into fellowship with Him, into the abundant life. It is this reunion that the world mistakes for chains and shackles. But “blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12). Here, we are found, we belong, and we are free.

Jesus, you are my refuge. I am safe and secure with you, free to live the life you dreamed for me when you set your Redemption Story in motion. Help me to live a life worthy of you, to no longer let sin entangle me, to serve others humbly and out of love. Just as you, with the humble heart of a servant, have loved me. It’s backwards to the world but may the opinions of this world fade in the light of your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.