A Yoke of Slavery

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A Yoke of Slavery

Paul says  in Galatians 5:1,

It was for freedom  that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm  and do not be subject again  to a yoke  of slavery.

Some people might claim  that they’ve never been a slave  and feel  that Galatians 5:1  does not refer  to them.     But,  it refers to everyone.     We all have a tendency  to let ourselves  become enslaved.     When the Jews felt  they had never been enslaved,  Jesus told them differently  in John 8:34,  where He said,

“Truly,  truly,  I say to you,  everyone who commits sin is  the slave  of sin.”

That means  we are enslaved.     How easily we feel  “obligated”  to join friends  who are doing something wrong  —  just because  we want a friend  and don’t want to be singled out  as different.     We can quickly fall  into any  kind of sin there is.

Both Jesus  and Paul  describe our tendency  to sin an enslavement.    Paul tells us  that to keep from being  a slave to sin,  we must stand firm  so that sin does not capture us  and “make us” do  what it wants.

As we abide in fellowship  with Jesus,  we have to always look  to Jesus  for the strength we need  to live  according to His word.     We cannot depend  on ourselves alone,  but Jesus has promised  to strengthen  and keep us  in times  of temptation.     That is a part  of what Paul means  when he says, “It was for freedom  that Christ  set us free.”

Jesus wants us  to be free  from the slavery  of sinful lives.     When Jesus displayed His love  for us  on the cross  to pay for all our sins,  He wants His love  to be taken seriously.     He wants us  to take His love  so seriously  that we no longer want  to sin — we no longer want  to be enslaved  to our sins.

So,  for every time we’re tempted,  we turn  to our Lord  and remember His suffering  and death  on the cross  to pay  for our sins.    Then,  in love  for the love we have received  from our Lord,  we lose our desire  to be enslaved  to sin.     The yoke  of slavery to sin  falls away.

That’s not saying  we’ll ever be perfect  in this life.     But,  it is saying  that our desire  to live according to God’s word  will be the stronger guide  in our lives.     The more we live  in the freedom  of God’s love,  the stronger we’ll become  in wanting  to live  in God’s love.

Then we will say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  Your ways are so good  and right  and beautiful.    Thank you  for wanting  to lead us  in Your paths  of righteousness.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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