Obedient from the Heart

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Obedient from the Heart

People can change — big time.     Sometimes we look at someone,  shaking our heads   and declaring,  “He will never change!”     That’s our opinion  and our opinion  does not count.

Sometimes people look at  all their own past sins  and sadly moan,  “I’ll never be able  to change.     I just don’t have the guts.    Everybody will be talking  about me.”     We can be wrong  about ourselves, too.

The people in Rome were accustomed  to quite the life  of debauchery and dissipation.     They thought they were cool  with their orgies,  loose morals,  drunkenness,  adulteries,  etc.     Everybody was doing it  and they wanted  to be a part  of the in-crowd.

Then,  along came Paul preaching  about our Lord and Savior,  Jesus Christ.     Paul told them straight out  that their lives were headed  for eternal hell.     Many seriously listened  and realized the truth — and became Christians,  instead of idol worshipers.     But,  sometimes these new Christians  slipped back into some  of their old sins.     They needed  to be strengthened  in God’s truths.     So, Paul tells them  in Romans 6:17-18,

But thanks be to God  that  though you were  slaves of sin,  you became obedient  from the heart  to that form  of teaching   to which you were committed,  and having been freed  from sin,  you became slaves  of righteousness.

The big change was formerly being  “slaves of sin”  and then becoming  “slaves of righteousness”.     The big change that happened  in their lives  can also happen  in our lives.     We cannot do it  all by ourselves.     Our own efforts  are useless.     But,  by the grace of God,  big changes  can happen  in our lives — just as  in the lives  of the Romans.

In verses 22-23,  Paul shows them  the difference God makes  in a person’s life.     He says,

But now having been freed  from sin  and enslaved to God,  you derive your benefit,  resulting in sanctification,  and the outcome,  eternal life.     For the wages of sin  is death,  but the free gift  of God  is eternal life  in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The big-time changes  in our lives can also be  like that:

From:    
Slavery to sin
The wages of sin  is death

To:
Enslaved to God
Sanctification
Eternal life in heaven

Thinking about it,  it shouldn’t be  a hard choice.     But yet,  many choose slavery  to sin — maybe because they can’t think  beyond the here and now.     We need to pray  for our Savior  to lead us.     He’s waiting  for us to ask.     We need  to consider our eternal future.

Then,  as we walk  with our Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  it is so wonderful  to be free  from slavery  to sin.     With You as my Master,  I’m truly free  and ever so blessed.     Be with me  every  step  of my way.”

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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