A New Slave
By Susan Klein
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey - - whether
you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads
to righteousness?”
Romans 6:16 (NIV)
I am a slave. So are
you. Everyone is. Does that thought disturb you? By definition, a slave is
someone who is owned and controlled by a force or person other than oneself. As
I see it (my perspective on God’s Word), there are three kinds of slaves in
this world.
The first kind of
slave is someone who has been purchased by another person for selfish gain.
They must obey the person to whom they are enslaved, and they have no rights of
their own. They are often mistreated by their master.
The second kind of
slave is someone who the Bible describes as, “a slave to sin.” This person is
set on satiating the appetites of the flesh, is controlled by their worldly passions,
and owned by their self-gratifying desires. This person may even believe he is
his own master.
Unfortunately, this describes
all of us at some point in our lives. I used to be this kind of slave.
Sometimes I still “feel” like I am a slave to sin. In my heart, I want to do
right. But in my flesh, I do wrong. It’s a constant battle! So how can I be
sure I’m not still a slave to sin?
Because the Bible
tells us that there is a third kind of slave: a slave to righteousness. You
see, a slave cannot have two masters. Therefore, if I have accepted Jesus
Christ as my Master, I cannot be a slave to sin any longer. It is impossible
for sin to own me if Jesus owns me.
I can still be
tempted by sin and weak in my flesh, but once my Master is Jesus Christ, no one
or no thing can snatch me away from Him or be master over me any longer. I am still
a slave, but a new slave. A slave to
Christ! He bought me with a price, and He owns me. Forever. And that is a very comforting
place to be.
Being a slave to
righteousness has its benefits. As Romans 6:22 puts it: “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.”
A slave in bondage or a slave
with blessings…you choose!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. What or who is master over you?
2. Are you experiencing bondage, or
blessing?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is married to Mark, and
has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and
tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at
Oakwood and also co-leads an on-site small group.
