Monday, April 29, 2013 -- Slavery Or Freedom?
Monday April 29, 2013
When's the last time you thought a negative angry thought? When did you last say something about someone that was not all that uplifting? When did you hold your last "pity party" wondering why something was unfair in your circumstances? When did you last tell a lie, exaggerate the truth, not bother to do what you know you ought to have done? These are all sin and Jesus tells us: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. (John 8:34, James 2:10 NLT) Ouch!!! If our behaviour involves any of the above then we are slaves to sin? I thought that kind of slavery was addiction to heroin or crystal meth, sexual abuse, or those crimes committed by those we label psychopaths or sociopaths. God's word challenges us to look at those sins we are willing to entertain in our everyday life. God calls us to live pure and holy in every way. Without Him, we are incapable of doing that. What kind of slavery and punishment is that?
God’s word informs us that only when we live in truth are we actually free. To be free we must first acknowledge the horror and hopelessness of living life independent of the help of God. Unless we recognize we are really in trouble on our own, we will never bother to change. 
Fortunately, the hopelessness and enslavement of our sinful broken lives is only 1/2 of the story. Jesus was careful to show us how to get free and how to live free.
"A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." (John 8:35-36 NLT)
"A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." (John 8:35-36 NLT)
We need Jesus to forgive us and to establish a family relationship between us and God our Father. What we are incapable of doing on our own, the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, will enable us to do. When we come to Jesus for forgiveness and choose to rely on Him, He makes us one of God's children. Once we are adopted into the family we have all the rights and privileges of family members and that lasts forever.Audio for Monday, April 29, 2013 -- Slavery Or Freedom?
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