July 22, 2017 - "Slavery"

Chaplain’s Corner

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Slavery

Are you ready and willing to become a slave? Is it possible that you are already a slave and don’t know it? I am inspired to write today some words of encouragement, and possibly words of conviction. Please let me know how this message affects you...

Today’s message is based on this scripture:

“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”  - 1 Peter 2: 16 (NIV)

In today’s society, especially here in the United States, the very term, “slave” has very negative connotations. We are still embarrassed that our “free” society that was established on the ideas that “all men are created equal” would have allowed slavery to exist at all. I am not going to pursue that discussion here, today. I want to move the discussion forward to our day, and our world, and our seat of motivation: our hearts.

When our forefathers fought the fine fight, and created a new country based on principles of personal freedom, they also acknowledged the very prominent place that God should have in our personal lives and in the everyday business of building the nation they had envisioned. I give you a quote from our first President, George Washington:

George Washington’s Prayer For America

 Almighty GOD; we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States of America at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of The Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Many people nowadays are losing sight of the original temperament and overall expressed belief that we as a nation were blessed by God, because we put Him first in our lives. Unknowingly, many people are simply trading one kind of slavery for another. We are all born in sin, and we are slaves to its effect on our lives. Because we are imperfect, we have a tendency to set our own selves up as masters of our destiny, and we put our own selves on the throne of our hearts. We are addicted to, or enslaved by, the passions of the flesh. Without an earnest desire to accept the Creator as being King  in our lives, and letting Him sit on the throne of our hearts, we are accepting all of the pain and suffering and consequences of our actions. Being a slave of God is actually a GOOD thing, and seeking to serve Him and live our lives by His righteous Standards actually frees us up to enjoy life and to enjoy a wonderful relationship with the One Who is the Author of our Salvation. Not wanting to bend to His will puts us at odds with divine perfection, and puts us on a dangerous course of rebellion. When we put our own wants and desires ahead of the will of God, we are basically thumbing our noses to the King, and we are declaring our independence from the safety and benefits of being in his family, and we are refusing to live a life that is in line with His calling and purposes for us.

The fact is, we are ALL slaves, one way or another. We are enslaved by our own desires, vices, corruptions and sinful tendencies. The only way to be truly free of this enslavement is to switch Masters, and to do that we must accept that God knows what is best for us. We must accept that He loves us. We must accept that His ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts. He sees the end from the beginning. To become a slave of God is to willingly submit to Him as our Lord and Savior. Being a slave of God does not have negative connotations. He will not abuse or mistreat us. His sole interest is in developing a relationship with each and every one of us, and He wants to see to it that we have the best life that we are capable of now, while in this flesh, to prepare us for the glorious rewards that come later after this flesh is gone.

Many people misread, or misunderstand the Apostle Paul when he said:

 All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].  - 1 Corinthians 10:23 (AMPC)

Because we are no longer under the Old Law Covenant, we are not under the rules and regulations and obligations that dictated every facet of the Jewish people’s lives. We have freedom in Christ, because we do not live by a set of rules, but rather, we live by a relationship with our God and our fellow men and women. Jesus said that if we love God with all of our heart, mind, and strength, and if we love our neighbor as ourselves, then we have fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. If you love God with everything you are, and you love your neighbor as your own self, do you need a law telling you not to murder someone? Do you need a written law telling you not to commit adultery with another man’s wife? Do you really need a law telling you not to steal from your neighbor?

If we are truly going to give ourselves over to God, and be His slaves, then we have to give ourselves completely. We can’t agree to some of his desires for us, and rebel against others. He is either totally in control of our lives, or we are. Are we giving up our free will when we do that? No! We freely and purposefully give ourselves over to the desires of the God Who created us and loves us, and Who paid the ultimate price for our sins and transgressions. So, yes, we have freedom in Christ, but that freedom does not give us Carte Blanche to just do whatever we want. There are clear cut standards in the Bible of holiness and living to please our God. Rebellion against Him is an option, but it does not set us free. It simply enslaves us to a master that has no love or affection for us, and will do whatever is necessary to ruin our whole existence and life. The wicked one is out to seek and destroy any and all of God’s people, and the Bible compares him to a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. If he can separate you from your walk with God, he has you hooked, and you are in his control. He may confuse the issue by making your life seem successful in a material way. But don’t be fooled by that. Opposing one Master Who loves us and wants to save us for eternity is just the same as switching alliances and serving the only other master out there. Drugs, money, greed, sexual gratification, power, etc. are all considered to be “gods” by different people as they give themselves over to them. But all of those other “gods” are under the control and domain of the wicked one who opposes the One and Only True God. You are basically a slave to one or the other. You pick.

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

My wife and I have made that choice. We seek Him every day, and we do not feel cheated of our freedoms or our liberties. We do not feel restricted. We do not feel as if we are “missing out” on any of the things life has to offer. We are happy and content serving in the Lord’s house, and we find our ultimate delight in knowing and serving Him. Our slavery to Him is a willing course of life, and we are richly blessed because of it. I invite you to seriously consider where you stand in this life. Where is your devotion? Who is sitting on the throne of your heart? Who do you answer to? Are you happy? Truly happy? Content? Do you feel blessed? Do you have love of neighbor that moves you to action? Do you associate with God’s people as often as possible? Do you seek to share your passion for the Lord with those you meet in life? Do you share the love of Christ?

I hope this has given you a little something to think about. Meditate on your position in life and ask yourself if you honestly believe you are following the will of God. No, we don’t have a bunch of “rules and regulations,” per se, but there is a beauty in knowing the True God and His word, and living our lives for Him. May the Holy Spirit convict your heart of the need for changes, and may you have the strength of character, with His help, to yield to Him as He seeks to mold you and make you into a useful tool in the Great Potter’s house. Yield your desires to Him, and seek His glory, not your own. Give your heart over to Him, and let Him be in control of your life. You will find a peace and joy in your heart like you have never experienced in your life.

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4: 6, 7 (NIV)

God Bless You, every one, and,
God Bless America
Stephen King
Chaplain@3upi.com
www.facebook.com/GFGMinistry