Living a Life That Honors GodEsimerkki

Real Freedom

Many people long for freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, freedom from want. We want to make our own decisions, instead of being enslaved by others or by our circumstances.

The Bible teaches us that all humans are born slaves: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me…” (Psalm 51:5). And Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). We are not able to resist sin and live righteous lives. This will irrevocably lead to our death—except when Jesus sets us free. He can break the chains of sin and death.

But how can we live “as people who are free?” The apostle Paul says that we should “present [our] members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification” (Romans 6:19). So instead of being slaves of sin, we are now “slaves of God”—voluntarily. We are now free to serve God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (see Deuteronomy 6:5).

Do you delight in being a servant of God?