The following story is a good one, because figuratively speaking, the man could only be set free if he would admit his sin. I meet many people who are sadly lacking joy because they refuse to take a long look at themselves. In fact these days, it is encouraged by the culture to make excuses by secular psychology, which teaches that everyone's past experiences shapes them.
When I have held onto my stance of blaming I never had peace, it was when I could honestly say, "I was wrong", that my joy would return. Truth telling about everything is the only way to find solutions and to be set free from the bondage of pride.
MORE LIKELY WE ARE SHAPED BY OUR RESPONSES TO EXPERIENCES NOT BY THE EXPERIENCES THEMSELVES.
Here is the story by Spurgeon:
Ladybird Bee sent this to me, it is very good!
"One of the greatest preachers who ever lived, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, called the "prince of preachers," loved to tell this story:
"It seems there was a Duke who once boarded a galley ship and went below to talk to the convicts manning the oars. When he asked several of them what their crimes were, almost every man claimed that he was innocent, blaming someone else, or even accused the judge of taking a bribe.
"There was one young man whose reply was different. He said. "I deserve to be here, sir. I stole some money. No one is at fault but me. I am guilty."
"When the Duke heard this he shouted, "You scoundrel, you! What are you doing here among all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!" The Duke ordered the young prisoner to be released.
"So, the young man was set free, while the rest of the prisoners were left to continue to tug at the oars. The key to his freedom was his admission of guilt.
"This is a picture of salvation. Until one is willing to admit, "I am a sinner in need of salvation," one cannot experience freedom from guilt and condemnation.
"God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (Luke 18:13)
"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)"
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