MASTERS
Greg and Nanette Robinson
Today’s Scripture: "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" Romans 6:16, ESV
Theme: We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. Choose your master wisely.
SLAVES TO SIN
The Bible says that Satan is the father of lies and the founder of sin. One of the whoppers that he has whispered throughout the ages is that, once you are saved, you can live an unrighteous life and that Jesus will surely understand... He is faithful to forgive and your place in heaven is secure, so live however you please! Paul’s teaching in today’s Scripture is a warning for professing Christians who have bought into that lie. What master does a person serve who goes to church and praises the Lord on Sunday but chooses to have an affair, steals from others, tells lies and willfully engages in all types of sin? Jesus has a very strong warning for those who profess to follow Him but make a mockery of His grace. To those willful and unrighteous slaves of sin He says, “‘On that day many will say to me, “Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do mighty works in your name?” And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity’” (Matthew 7:22, ESV). Paul sums it all up in today’s verse by saying that “you are slaves to the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.”
SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
On YouTube you can find a video of Zach Williams performing his inspiring song, “Chain Breaker,” to prisoners at Harding Prison in Nashville, TN. In the first verse he sings, “If you’ve been walking the same old road for miles and miles. If you’ve been hearing the same old voice, tell the same old lies. If you’re trying to fill the same old holes inside. There's a better life…There's a better life!”
Jesus is the chain breaker! Jesus is the worthy Master whose ways lead to righteousness, eternity and the abundant life! Jesus loves each of us! He isn’t trying to deprive us of fun when he warns us of the dangers of sin. He’s our Savior, seeking to protect us from the heartbreak of broken relationships, diseases, addictions, defeat and ultimately physical and spiritual death.
CHOOSE YOUR MASTER WISELY
A quick Google search reveals that each day the average person makes 35,000 choices. Certainly, we will not always make the right choices or do the right things, but when Jesus is our Lord and Master, we find no comfort in sin. When we fall short of what we know God expects of us our hearts are repentant, and our spirit is contrite as we strive earnestly to do what is right in the eyes of our Master and Lord. Choose wisely the master that you serve, for as Jesus says, no one can serve two masters. Jesus Christ leads us to the abundant joyous life while Satan the founder of sin leads us down the pathway of death and destruction. Let us be resolute in our righteous convictions breaking the chains of sin and proclaiming that, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!”
Pray: Father, I give You praise and honor for Your providential care over me, my family and this world. Forgive me for those times where I have willfully lived unrighteously before You. Make it so I never use Your grace as a justification for my sin. Give me the strength and conviction to turn away from those things that displease You. I know You only want only what’s best for me. I ask these things in the name of my Lord, Master and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.
Read: Romans 6:15-23
Weekly Memory Verse: “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” Romans 2:29, ESV