February 28 - Slavery

Today was a rain run... (9 min x 9 P.U. x 9 S.U.).

Romans 6:6

6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin...

Through accepting Christ as our savior, we aren't just accepting the gift of eternal life in heaven. We are committing to follow Christ and to live by the standards that he has set for us. This is not an easy task. As the bible says, when we decide to follow Christ and make him our number one priority, we put to death our old selves. The old me that used to lived completely for the things of this world is no longer. Yes, I may falter and I may mess up, but the old mindset of having the freedom to do those things of the world is no longer. My new mindset and 'heartset' is devoted and committed to living by the Word.

Last night, my wife was watching the Oscar's and I happened to catch some of it. Halle Berry was interviewed and the questions were pertaining to what she enjoyed about Oscar night. She replied with the fact she loves to see everyone dressed up. That's completely fine...so far. The next line out of here mouth is what got me thinking. She said, "I really am a slave for fashion". Does anyone else find this alarming? The actors and actresses have such a great opportunity to live for what is right and be a positive example for those watching, instead I am even more convinced in Hollywood's corruptness and sinfulness.

Don't get me wrong, I screw up. I can waste time better than anyone when I want to. I can 'want' something that I know I can never have. However, we are instructed to no longer be slaves to sin. The hooks of hell and the grips of sinfulness are no longer our captors. We have been set free from that slavery that the world had us restrained by. There is even better news...

In Romans 6 it is also tells us that, "22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

This slavery is not the abusive, deathly slavery that we once we bound by in the world. This slavery is a duty in which our Master showers us with rich blessings and love. Our lives are geared towards holiness and the end result in trusting him as our Master and Savior is eternal life in heaven. We have a freedom that unbelievers cannot understand until they see it in our lives. If we don't live out our lives in the manner God has called us to live it, how can we expect others to cast aside the things of this world, such as fashion, drugs, TV, cars, etc, instead of trusting Christ with their lives?

I am a slave to God. I also know that I do not work as hard as I should for Him. I still have things of this world that try to grab me and pull me down to it's level. Sometimes, the world succeeds. Thankfully, Romans 3:23 and 24 explain that, "23 for all have sinned and fall short  of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus". My mistakes are covered and cleansed in the blood of Christ. The world cannot offer what God has given us through His son!

This brings a whole new meaning to being a slave...

EXTRA CREDIT: