Slaves

            
            

Another pretty quick one this week – like last week’s, I’ve just drawn it for my own benefit – if it’s of any use to you then have at it.

The full verse is from Romans 6. Verses 16 – 18 read:

Do you not know that if you present yourselvesto anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. [ESV]

It’s just one part of a very profound chapter, in what is a very powerful book of the Bible. Read the whole thing if you get the time, and take your time over it. If you’re a Christian and stuck in a rut in some area of sin, it can be an essential shift in perspective to understand that you were once a slave to sin – and that, having been freed from its power through Jesus’ cross, you are still a slave – but a slave to righteousness. The life you now live is one of surrender to God’s will. Am I still tempted? Sure! Can I still sin? Of course I can. But to reckon yourself a slave to righteousness is to declare that you no longer have the right to go down that path. You have given your rights over into the hands of one who has far better things for you.

I’m not expecting to be sinless this side of Heaven, and the Bible doesn’t give us that expectation – but it does give us an expectation, coupled with almighty power, for continuing sanctification – our characters and actions becoming more and more like Jesus as our lives go on.

If you would like a 5″x7″ .jpg of either this or last week’s, let me know and I can send you the file.