Slave or Free?
READ: John 8:31-36
Picture in your mind a slave auction in the old south. A young slave girl is being auctioned off and a wealthy plantation owner buys her. Then, instead of forcing her to be his slave, he sets her free. This causes the girl to want to serve her new master out of gratitude.
In the same way, Jesus saw us as sinners and paid the ultimate price to set us free. We were set free from sin like a slave released from bondage. John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Since Jesus has set us free from sin, we feel that we must serve Him and dedicate our lives to Him. However, this is not an obligation, nor is it demanded from us. The dedication of our lives to God is a fruit of faith. It is our response to the freedom God has so generously given to us. As Christians, we are no longer slaves to sin, because we are free, yet we still serve as a response for our freedom.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How did Jesus set us free from the slavery of sin? Why do we serve God even when we are not required to do so? What are some other fruits of faith?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to give us strength to dedicate our whole life to Him. Pray for those who wrongly think that good works will earn then salvation. Thank God for setting us free from the bondage of sin.