I'm a Slave for You - Not to be confused with Britney!
Coming from Romans 6:15-23 today!
I'm a slave to being upright and walking the Christian life. It's that or a slave to sin. Spent many years on that team. BREAKING NEWS: Christians struggle with sin!! Subtitle: I don't answer to sin and the process of repentance sets me free, duh!
It certainly was easier to do what I wanted, when I wanted to do it and with whom. I didn't toil over whether or not what I was doing was pleasing in God's eyes. I certainly didn't consider if I was living out the purpose He saw for my life. Christians, let's be honest, it's easier to live in sin. Living righteous takes discipline, will, faith, long-suffering, growth, stripping of pride and the giving up of our desires for our life, etc.
We all know how we are slaves to sin. Some being alcohol, drugs, sex, hate, pride, greed, etc. These things create a downward spiral; cause and effect. It's logical. So if sin leads to more sin than living righteous leads to?
So what's that mean, to be a slave to righteousness? For me, I have a charge on my life to use my singing for God's kingdom. I spend a lot of my time in preparation to minister. I invest a lot of my time and money in to a ministry that the worldly world view as non-beneficial, a non-investment. I don't hang out with folks I used to. Our lives aren't lined up and it would simply be chaotic for me and NOT because there's something terribly wrong with folks, I just know how I might be tempted. The separation isn't easy because you get mockers, and folks saying "Oh, so and so is too good now!"It's a balance to not take myself so seriously and still be me while walking upright. Always thinking about how I represent my family, church and ministry. When I was in sin, I worried about keeping up with the Joneses.
My worries now: same concept, different purpose. Definitely a different outcome. So yes, I once was a slave to sin, now a slave to righteousness. The latter gives back. I've been ridiculously set free of strongholds, I have experienced deliverance, monetary blessings, great new friends and family, and wisdom not to mention my children are stronger! I choose to be on Team Jesus. There's more perks and the "Retirement Plan" blows my mind! Team Anna is dysfunctional!
Inspired me today:
Romans 6:15-23
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’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? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
I'm a slave to being upright and walking the Christian life. It's that or a slave to sin. Spent many years on that team. BREAKING NEWS: Christians struggle with sin!! Subtitle: I don't answer to sin and the process of repentance sets me free, duh!
It certainly was easier to do what I wanted, when I wanted to do it and with whom. I didn't toil over whether or not what I was doing was pleasing in God's eyes. I certainly didn't consider if I was living out the purpose He saw for my life. Christians, let's be honest, it's easier to live in sin. Living righteous takes discipline, will, faith, long-suffering, growth, stripping of pride and the giving up of our desires for our life, etc.
We all know how we are slaves to sin. Some being alcohol, drugs, sex, hate, pride, greed, etc. These things create a downward spiral; cause and effect. It's logical. So if sin leads to more sin than living righteous leads to?
So what's that mean, to be a slave to righteousness? For me, I have a charge on my life to use my singing for God's kingdom. I spend a lot of my time in preparation to minister. I invest a lot of my time and money in to a ministry that the worldly world view as non-beneficial, a non-investment. I don't hang out with folks I used to. Our lives aren't lined up and it would simply be chaotic for me and NOT because there's something terribly wrong with folks, I just know how I might be tempted. The separation isn't easy because you get mockers, and folks saying "Oh, so and so is too good now!"It's a balance to not take myself so seriously and still be me while walking upright. Always thinking about how I represent my family, church and ministry. When I was in sin, I worried about keeping up with the Joneses.
My worries now: same concept, different purpose. Definitely a different outcome. So yes, I once was a slave to sin, now a slave to righteousness. The latter gives back. I've been ridiculously set free of strongholds, I have experienced deliverance, monetary blessings, great new friends and family, and wisdom not to mention my children are stronger! I choose to be on Team Jesus. There's more perks and the "Retirement Plan" blows my mind! Team Anna is dysfunctional!
Inspired me today:
Romans 6:15-23
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’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? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
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P.S. I know there's folks out there who love God, obey Him, live an upright life and still live thier lives doing secular music! If that's you - help a girl out and respond with how you keep that balance!
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