Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? . . . But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:16, 22)
We are all slaves to something because we all worship something. We were made for worship, and what we worship enslaves us. That is why the only slavery in the world that actually sets us free is slavery to our Savior. Because we were created in the image of God, we were made to worship God. We were created to be under His authority, dominion, and rule. When we rebel against God’s control of everything in this universe (including our lives), we sell ourselves into bondage to ourselves. But when we submit to His sovereign rule and become His slaves, we begin to experience true freedom in this life. Freedom is found only in willing submission to our Savior.
When Adam and Eve tried to come out from under God’s authority, they thought they would experience ultimate freedom. They did not; they plunged themselves and all of creation into bondage to sin, Satan, and death. But God came after those rebels on the run. He refused to let them remain in their sinful and estranged condition.
We all seek freedom. To be sure, it is considered the highest virtue in the West. But true freedom will only be found in slavery to Jesus. The Word of God tells us we are all slaves — either to sin or to righteousness. Slavery to Christ is the freedom our hearts beat for, whether we know it or not. Our hearts beat for the peace that can only be found in Christ. Our hearts beat for the love that can only be found in Christ. Our hearts beat for the meaning, significance, and purpose that can only be found in Christ. When we are brought into a saving relationship with Jesus, we are crucified with Christ and become new creatures (Romans 6:4). True freedom is realized when we acknowledge Jesus as both Savior and Lord of our lives.
Make no mistake, slavery is inevitable. We are all going to be enslaved to something. Some are enslaved through their jobs . . . others through their food and drink . . . still others through relationships. Only when Jesus is sitting on the throne of our lives will we experience slavery to Him as the ultimate freedom in this life and the next.
How much freedom have you been experiencing lately? Remember, Jesus gives you the opportunity to choose freedom — not just daily, but moment by moment. Joshua summed it up beautifully: “Choose this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 