Shall Not Be Master Over You

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Shall Not Be Master Over You

It’s so much easier  to just go with the flow  than to buck the system.     So,  that is the route  most people take.     That is why Jesus pointed out  in Matthew 7:13-14,

Enter by the narrow gate;  for the gate is wide,  and the way is broad  that leads to destruction,  and many are those  who enter by it.      For the gate is small,  and the way is narrow  that leads to life,  and  few are those  who find it.

Temptations galore  are the wide gate  and  plain ol’ sin  is the broad way  that damns us eternally.     It’s easy to see  that most everyone  lets temptations conquer them.     All around  we see cheating,  stealing,  lying,  adultery,  murder,  gossip,  slander, arrogance,  — and nobody thinks they do the bad stuff deserving  of eternal damnation.

No matter what anyone’s personal opinion,  the broad way  does lead  to hell.     So,  where is that small gate  and  narrow way  that only a few find?      Jesus is  that small gate.     He points  to this gate  in John 10:9,

I am the door;  if anyone enters  through Me,  he shall be saved. 

We can get to heaven  through Jesus only.     There is no other door  that will open up the way  to heaven.     If Jesus is the door — the gate — what is that narrow way  we must go on?     We travel  day by day  by faith,  through the grace of God.    Ephesians 2:8 shows us,

For by grace  you have been saved  through faith;  and that not of yourselves,  it is  the gift  of God.

What is this grace?     Grace is the undeserved love  of God  for each and every one of us.     God’s love  remains faithful,  even though  we have sinned.     God’s grace — His undeserved love — is like a strong hand  leading us  and holding us up.     It is love  leading us.

Every time we are tempted  to sin,  God’s love  (grace)  for us  in Jesus Christ  stands  in front of us  as a reminder.     When tempted,  we see Jesus suffering and dying  to pay  for that sin.     When we see God’s love  (grace)  in Christ,  we don’t want to reject  or despise  such a tremendous love  for us.     That would be horrible.     We just can’t do it.

We believe Jesus suffered and died  for our sins.     That is faith.     When we stop sinning  because we don’t want  to hurt  Jesus’  love for us,  that is God’s love  (grace)  leading us  on the narrow path  to eternal life.     And so,  Romans 6:14 shows us,

For sin  SHALL NOT BE MASTER  OVER YOU,  for you are not  under law,  but under grace.

When we understand  God’s true love  for us,  we simply don’t want  to sin against Him.

Sin used to easily lure us  into all sorts  of evil ways.     Since everybody else is sinning  like crazy,  we let sin  be the master  over us, too.     If other people are hateful,  sin masterfully convinces us  it is okay for us  to be hateful.     We just fall  into the groove  of being a slave  to sin.     We let sin master us.     It’s easy.

But,  sin can no longer master us  when we let the love  (grace)  of God  lead all  of our living.

So,  what do we want  for a master?     Sin — or the love  (grace)  of God?     One or the other  will rule over you.     Let us look to Christ,  our Savior,  for the love  (grace)  and guidance we need.     He alone  is able  to lead us on the way everlasting.

Then we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You have set me free  from sin.     Always rule  in my heart  that I may dwell  in the light  of Your love.”

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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