Libby's guide to being set free
In John, chapter 8, Jesus says:
"If you follow my commandements, then you will truly be my disciples; then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
In order to be free, you need to know the Truth. A disciple will know the Truth. In order to become a disciple, you just need to follow Jesus' commandments, these being:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your spirit," and
"Love your neighbour as youself"
Do you love God with all your heart? If not then you are not keeping the commandment.
Do you love your neighbour? Even if he is a child rapist?
Do you love yourself as you love your neighbour?
Even when you do wrong?
If there is any reservation in your love, then you are not keeping the commandments and therefore you are not truly a disciple and therefore you will not know the Truth and therefore you cannot be free.
The great thing about Jesus is he really did give out some dead simple instructions. Many people just can't believe it's that simple so they look for metaphors and interpretations and complicate the issues. But it really is that simple.
Have faith in Jesus, have faith in his teaching.
Many of us have inner doubts about our faith. You can't just decide to have faith though, faith itself is a gift so there's no point in worrying about it.
If you feel your faith is not strong enough, and you want to be free, but don't know how to get started, here's a little prayer you can say:
"Father, please give me faith in Jesus' commandments and help me follow them"
If you have trouble loving God, then ask him to show you his love. He loves you more than your mum does and it's easier to love someone we feel loves us. If this is where you have difficulty try this prayer:
"Father, I don't know how to love you. Please make it easy for me and make me feel your love for me"
If you have trouble loving yourself, think about this. Do you do wrong? Sometimes. Do you ask forgiveness? Yes. And do you forgive people who ask it of you? Yes. God loves you. Is he a chump? No, so you must be worth loving. God is a very good judge of character.
If you have trouble loving your neighbour who has done evil, try imagining how you would feel about your own child or parent or brother or sister if it were they who had done evil. You would still love them, although you would hate the evil they did.
If it happens to you like it happened to me, then when you get the hang of 'love thy neighbour', you'll look at all the sin and the suffering in the world and your heart will break. You will go into the nearst church and stare up at the image of Christ crucified and you will understand. And you will love him then with all your heart. And you'll follow him. And you'll know the Truth. And you'll be set free.
Oliver