A Slave to Freedom

Before I was in Christ, I was dead in my transgressions–a slave to them in fact–and unable to do anything righteous in the eyes of God. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…” (Eph. 2;1-2a) However, because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, God’s chosen ones were made alive by His grace. For this I am forever a slave to the Master who chose to save me from my slavery to sin. I am completely underserving of His grace and kindness, yet He chose me in the midst of my sin anyway. For “we know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin…so you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:6-7;11, 22) and “…now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”

Since I am alive in Christ, any act for or towards Him is authentic and genuine. God would not allow me to have unauthentic faith in Him because if He has chosen me, then He has already put His stamp of authenticity on me. Therefore, any praise, honor, glory I give Him, if it’s through His strength and by His Will, is genuine.

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Our slavery to Christ is evident when we so submit and surrender ourselves to His Will that we blindly trust Him even when the storms rage because we know that our good and benevolent Master has a perfect plan. For me, this means that I must acknowledge God at all times, and in doing this I recognize His ultimate power and control over me, for He rules my life, I do not. Even when it’s uncomfortable, or terrifying, or painful, I must surrender because I know with all confidence that in serving my Savior there is fuller life and brighter reality than can be found in anything of this world. So I enter in.

What’s more is that in my relationship with the Lord there is no room for fake love or fake faith, I’ve learned that I must be 100% all-in, all the time, if I am truly a slave for my Master.

He demands my slavery, but thank goodness the Lord promises me that his “…yoke is easy and [His] burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29)

#Faith