Slaves

Have you thought about slaves recently? If so, you probably had an image from some or other movie come into your mind, because slaves are not normally part of our modern lives anymore!

 A slave is someone who has a master, to whom he must be obedient at all times.  He has no choice in the matter – when his master says: Jump! He jumps…. He does not have the privilege of denying the command.

Which brings us to our verse quoted above. Before we knew Jesus, we were slaves to sin. We sinned because sin was our master, it commanded us to follow the sinful urges jumping up from inside our sinful natures.

But no more! That very same old sinful nature was crucified with Christ and our water baptism is the sign that the power that that old nature wielded over us, is now deader than a doornail! (Col 2:12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life) Sin immediately lost its hold over our lives.

Does that mean that we no longer sin after becoming a Christian? Of course not! It means that we now get to choose whether we will sin or not. Yes, you heard right. When you sin now, it is because you choose to do it. Not because a sin slave master cracked his whip over you, and you had to obey.

Remember this image, my friend, when you next feel so powerless because there is some or other sin in your life which you feel is overwhelming you. See your old sinful self on the cross with Jesus, breathing out his last. Then see the new you rising up, facing that sin slave master squarely in the eyes, and saying a resounding, NO!

And simply walk away from the temptation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we have such good news about temptations. God promises in that verse firstly that “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. (so, you are not being singled out for extra punishment), secondly, And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. (He made sure you would be able to counter this temptation, He promises to give you the strength to do so, then with His help it is not beyond your abilities or strength). And also, When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (As you walk away, start looking for that way out. The telephone may start ringing, for instance, giving you an excuse to disengage with the temptation. God is such a practical, hands-on God!) And the more you stand up against that old sin slave master, the better you are going to get at it. Hallelujah! Praise God! Jesus set us free indeed!

Points to ponder: I also have a role to play in countering temptation to sin. Am I actively avoiding situations that will trigger me to go back to old sinful patterns again?