Rooted in WorshipSample

Getting Out of Egypt

Have you ever struggled with a sin and conquered it but later felt tempted to practice it again? If so, you are not the first. The story of Israel’s deliverance from bondage can illustrate our spiritual journey out of the bondage to sin as we follow Jesus Christ. In the case of Israel, God brought them out of their physical slavery in a spectacular fashion, but bringing about freedom in their hearts and minds would take much longer. It has been often said, “It took one day to get the Israelites out of Egypt, but it took forty years to get Egypt out of the Israelites.”

In Romans chapter six, Paul gives the analogy of sin as living in slavery. He says, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death” (Romans 6:20-21).

We all have experienced slavery to sin. The good news is that when we become followers of Jesus, we change masters! We are no longer slaves to sin! Paul explains this in the next few verses. He says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23).

As disciples of Jesus, we have been offered freedom from sin, a chance to live in holiness, and the gift of eternal life! Wow! We are a blessed people!

Now, “holiness” may seem like an abstract concept when defined with difficult words such as consecration or sanctification, but holiness is actually very simple to explain. To be holy is to become like Jesus. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15).

The good news is that we are not alone in this process. We have been given the “gift” of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives at the moment of salvation and provides the power necessary to live a life of holiness. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) You will notice that it is possible to finish the sentence “Jesus is ______” with any of the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to become like Jesus!

For some, it can take years of practice and yielding to the Spirit’s help to grow this fruit. For others, it can be a dramatic change in a short amount of time. The timing is up to God.

But what happens when a disciple of Jesus starts to slip and get pulled back into a pattern of ungodly living? The Israelites went through this very same thing. After a month-and-a-half of walking toward the Promised Land, they began complaining and talking about returning to Egypt. What a crazy thought! I imagine they were trudging through thick sand and rocks for miles and miles every day, not seeing any water or food. Their animals were tired, and their kids were complaining. Slavery in Egypt may have been terrible, but at least it was predictable- maybe even comfortable compared to God’s way.

Sometimes, walking with Jesus can feel this way, too. Sometimes, it seems that life would be easier and more comfortable back in our own personal Egypt. But that is a lie. God has set us free to be his holy people, and he has given us everything we need to live in freedom.

The Father has declared you free. Jesus gave his life for your freedom. The Holy Spirit actively supports your freedom each day.

We are free people. Let’s walk in that freedom today!

Reflection:

Is there a sin, a lie, or a habit that tries to creep back into your life from time to time in order to make you a slave again?

What do you need the Holy Spirit’s help with today? Invite him to help you!