peter g. chase

DRAWING NEAR

January 11

The Slavery That Frees


"In [Christ] we have redemption" (Eph. 1:7).


Slavery to sin is *******; slavery to God is freedom.

Freedom is a precious thing. People throughout history have prayed,
fought, and even died for it. Our Declaration of Independence upholds
it as one of our inalienable rights.

But the truth is, no matter what one's political situation might be,
everyone is a slave--either to sin or to God. Jesus said that
everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). Paul added
that all of creation is in slavery to corruption (Rom. 8:21).
However, believers have "been freed from sin and enslaved to God"
(Rom. 6:22).

The Roman Empire had as many as twenty million slaves, so slave trade
was a major industry. For a slave to gain his or her freedom, a
redemption price had to be paid. The Greek word for such a
transaction is lutro[ma]o, which Paul uses in Ephesians 1:7 to speak
of our redemption from sin's *******.

Slavery to sin is *******; slavery to God is freedom. That sounds
paradoxical but God is the Sovereign King and true freedom is having
the ability to bend your will to His and thereby become all that He
created you to be. Even though you will fail at times, your greatest
desire and highest pursuit as a believer is to be like Christ (1 John
2:5-6). Those enslaved to sin cannot do that, nor do they want to.

Today you will have many opportunities to demonstrate your submission
to Christ. Let your attitudes and actions speak clearly of your love
for the Master.


Suggestions for Prayer:

 Thank the Lord that He is a faithful and just Master who always
does what is best for His servants.

 A self-seeking slave is a contradiction in terms. Ask the Lord to
guard you from thoughts and actions contrary to His will.


For Further Study:

 According to 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 what key characteristic is
required of a servant of Christ?

 Read Matthew 24:42-51. How does Jesus describe a wise servant?

 Read Philippians 2:5-11. How did Jesus demonstrate the heart of a
servant? What implications does His example have for your life?

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.


All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~


John 8:34 (NKJV)
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave of sin."

Romans 8:21
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the *******
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

1 John 2:5-6
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in
him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of
the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Matthew 24:42-51
42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is
coming.
43 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what
hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his
house to be broken into.
44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect.
45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made
ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46 "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will
find so doing.
47 "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his
goods.
48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is
delaying his coming,'
49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunkards,
50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not
looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.

You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/

and

http://www.gty.org.uk/

You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org

NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.

In Christ,

Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor