Bible Study breathes life into my soul. A small group of ladies sharing transparently and vulnerably becomes a lifeline, and a filter by which to view life.

Recently we read and discussed Romans 6:16-22.

Our study reminded us that freedom has a cost and the cost was met through Jesus as He went to the Cross, thus securing our freedom.

In Romans, Paul emphasizes several important truths about being a slave and freedom:

• We are slaves to whatever, or whomever, we obey. “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (verse 16, NASB). So a good question to ask ourselves is: Who am I obeying?
• Obedience stems from our hearts. Look at verse 17: “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed” (NASB). .It is why good teaching, a good Bible Study, is so important. We become committed to what we learn, it roots in our hearts, and obedience will flow from our hearts.

We are either ruled by godly or sinful desires.

“Based on the teachings of Scripture, however, many theologians argue that man’s will is not entirely free but ruled by his desires. In a way, we are bound to our wants, and they often dictate how we navigate the world.”

(from Worthy by The Daily Grace Co. page 89)

In the margin of my study book I posed these questions: What do I want in life? Do I want what Jesus wants more than anything else?

The manner in which we answer those questions really determines how we will live our lives.

God changes our desires as we grow in Him so that we begin to desire or want the things He wants.

And when our wants are changed, we become slaves to Christ.

“Unlike bondage to sin, being a slave of Christ brings life, meaning, and true freedom.”

(from Worthy by The Daily Grace Co., page 91)

The word ‘slave’ has a negative connotation in today’s world, and rightfully so. It also makes it difficult to think of in terms of our identity. But when we realize the word in terms of our spiritual wants and desires, it changes the way we view the word.

In God’s kingdom, there are many paradoxes and this is surely one.

When His desires for our lives
are our wants and desires,
we become slaves to Christ who live in true freedom.

I admit I did not get to do much reading this past week, and missed sharing the linkup. So I will share probably one post which I did read. While this is written for writers, there is a wonderful lesson in it for us all. Let’s be people who encourage others, cheer them on to success, and are happy for the achievements of others – yes, even when we are sidelined and on the bench. Read “When You Are on the Bench” HERE by Steve Laube.

Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.

Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash