The Real Prison Bars

Slavery or submission? That’s our choice. And make no mistake, we are free to choose.

Don’t like those choices? Let me flesh it out for you. Scripture makes it clear we will serve someone or something. Two forces contend for our loyalty.

One is good.

One is not.

Check out this verse from Romans, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.” (Romans 6:16 NIV)

Paul follows that verse with these, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Romans 6:20-22)

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

When we offer to obey something or someone other than God, we willingly take on shackles. We willingly walk into the jail cell. The enemy is subtle. He tweaks our thoughts and camouflages the bars. Sin looks so good—until the key clicks in the lock, and we can’t get out.

Only God can set us free.

James 4:7 tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Funny, God never flees from us. Instead, Scripture gives us pictures of a father running to meet the returning prodigal, a shepherd leaving ninety-nine to search for one, and a bleeding savior taking our place on the cross.

Submission to the evil one or submission to Jesus? Death or life? The choice really isn’t that hard.

Questions:

Where does the idea of independence come from?

Why do we buck the idea of submission?

What has been your experience with each master?

Family Application:

Discuss the ideas of independence and submission.

Compare your kids’ ideals of freedom as a grown-up to reality.

Talk about how to choose whom to serve.

Tweetables:

Slavery or submission? That’s our choice. And make no mistake, we are free to choose. Click To Tweet
Scripture makes it clear we will serve someone or something. Two forces contend for our loyalty. Click To Tweet
Sin looks so good—until the key clicks in the lock, and we can’t get out. Click To Tweet

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