Slavery, Freedom & Forgiveness
BRD REFLECTIONS
Romans 6:15-23 ; Psalm 130 and 131 (NIV)
(Michael Lee, Steward, LCEC)
READ:
Roman 6:15-23 – Slaves to Righteousness.
Psalm 130 – Forgiveness and Fear of God.
Psalm 131 – David’s humble, learned contentment in the Lord.
OBSERVE:
Roman 6:15-23 is telling us Christians about freedom from sin and enslavement to God, righteousness, sanctification, and eternal life. We should ask how can we, as a believer in Jesus Christ, be freed from the reigning power of sin in our daily life?
The gospel has made every provision for this reality in our lives. Have we resolved that sin will no longer have dominion over us?
Apostle Paul says in Romans 6:15-23 that a proper understanding of grace should lead us to freedom from sin. This is especially so when Christians are no longer under the law but under grace. It should lead us instead to obedience, to us desiring to be slaves to God’s righteousness.
We know God and have been spiritually delivered from sin. Therefore, our lives should reflect this new reality. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The key point to note is that sin leads to death, but grace and obedience lead to God’s righteousness and eternal life.
And if we give ourselves to sin, under the pretence of grace, we will soon find ourselves a slave to sin and all that goes with that is death in all aspects.
For Paul, there is no middle ground; we are all slaves! The question is: To whom are we enslaved to? If it is to sin, the result will be death. If it is obedience to God, the result will be His righteousness and the gift of eternal life.
Psalm 130 expresses lament over wrongdoing and a strong desire for a word of forgiveness from the Lord.
God is to be feared because He is the only one who can forgive. This fear is not negative to the Psalmist. He wants the Lord, not just His forgiveness. He wants a right relationship with God, and that is his hope.
I also observed in Psalm 131 that David is expressing his humility, his confidence, and his commitment to perform the will of God. David declares his humble heart, renounces selfish ambition and declares his contented heart.
APPLY:
Romans 6:15-23 teaches me that I am to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. It teaches me that God’s grace does not give me a free licence to continue sinning, but it should lead me to obedience and righteousness.
This passage also teaches me that justification should lead to sanctification. They are God’s grace in our lives and should not be separated to the point where I miss the obvious connections.
Psalm 130 reminds me of having a right relationship with God whereas Psalm 131 is a reminder of being in contentment, with a humble heart.
I must learn to be more mindful, to be in obedience to God and that mercy can always lead us to worship. I thank God for His mercy on me.
DO:
In my daily walk with God, I am reminded that our God is a merciful and gracious God. There were many moments of God’s blessings in my life and God blessed me to be a blessing to others. I am reminded to be obedient to God at all times, to fear him. In all that I do, I will do it in humility and with a contented heart, especially to the poor and the less fortunate.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, our Father in Heaven,
I thank you for your many blessings upon me. Thank you for showing me your way, by giving your love, grace and forgiveness instead of the punishment for my sins that I deserve. Change my heart and change my prayers. Take away my heart and replace it with a heart of gratitude. Let me always be in obedience to you Lord, and to follow the path of righteousness.
Make me an obedient disciple and a faithful servant, and move me intentionally towards the path of gratitude and contentment.
Help me O Lord, to continue in my daily walk with you, to trust and obey, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Lord, use me as an instrument of your love, to help the less fortunate, and the disadvantaged as I do your kingdom works. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
