Devotional: Slaves of Christ: Romans 8

“They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say ‘You will become free’? (John 8:33, NASB)”

Most people are like the Pharisees that Jesus had conversation with in John 8. We do not want to think of ourselves as slaves. All of us are slaves. It’s just a matter of who and what we are slaves to. What is a slave? A slave is a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them. A person is a slave if they are completely subservient to a dominating influence. A person might be a slave to fashion/technology. At this very time in the life of every person he and she are slaves. Whoever or whatever controls us we are their slave. We are slaves in the way we think, feel and behave. We are unable to be free because we deny that we are slaves. We really believe that we are free to make our own decisions for our lives. We believe that we are free to do what we want to do with our bodies. No, we are slaves, and we accept our slavery because we have become familiar with our slavery. It is easier to be stabilized in our slavery than to take the necessary responsibility to be free.

When Jesus was teaching the word of God, He had in mind the people’s slavery to sin. “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin’” (John 8:34). Jesus was saying that those who commit sins are controlled by the sin nature in every person. If they believe Him and live by His word they will no longer be slaves to sin. They will be free. They will be free from sin so that they can live as slaves to Christ. Sin will no longer control them. Instead they will be controlled by the word and the Spirit of God.

I am a slave of Jesus Christ. I want to be controlled by Him. I must be transformed into Christ likeness (Romans 12:1-3). I must be a slave of Christ so that I can be free from the control of the devil and the world that he controls. I choose to be a slave to Christ because he offers forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to God, and eternal life.

Prayer: Thank You God for making me free to be Your slave. Amen.