Romans 6

ScriptureRomans 6:16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?Observation - What does it say?The Apostle Paul is highlighting the transformation Christians experience at salvation, from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ Jesus. Before being saved, every person was dead in their sin, using their bodies to satisfy their sinful desires. But at salvation, we experience transformation and freedom from sin in Christ. Paul points out that you are slaves of whoever you obey, whether sin or obedience to God.Understanding - What does it mean?You are slaves of the one you obey.God is worthy of our complete obedience. Failure to obey God’s word or even the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit means that we are obeying something or someone else. In other words, we all have a master. Either God, our sinful nature, another person, or the enemy. Or as Paul categorizes it: either sin or righteousness.Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.Life Application

This really made me think today. Who am I obeying? Who is my master? When I am faced with a decision to obey God or not, I must consider that disobedience to God means I am being obedient to someone/something else.

 

God, I want to obey you alone. I want to be a slave to you alone. I don’t want to be a slave to my sinful nature, which you freed me from, or to the enemy, whom you defeated. Give me the strength to walk in obedience to you today! Amen.

 

To check out the discussion or to join in click here.