Live As A Bond Slave


2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NASB) 14 "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf"

            You and I are blessed with the opportunity of not just being introduced to Christ, knowing Him as savior, but more so, knowing Him as LORD. In old testament times, those who were in debt could sell themselves into slavery, serve seven years working off the debt. At the end of the seven year period, the master would release the slave, forgiving their dept, back into freedom to live their lives.  Getting saved, accepting Christ as your savior releases you from the debt/bondage of sin because He paid off the master (God) the cost of your sin through His death on the cross so that you can live in freedom and hope of eternal life. But what about your new freedom?

            Back to the bond slave. At the end of the seven years, all the slaves went were released, free to live their lives. The bond slave, because of his understanding of what his master did to provide his freedom, returned the love to his master and committed to serving the master the rest of his life. The bond slave submitted and surrendered to the master accepting the master as LORD, (ruler) over his life. No longer obligated by law to "WORK OFF" his debt, but out of  his love for his master, released his new found freedom, forfeiting his "rights" to himself as allowed by the law.

            This action required a mature understanding of the sacrifice that was paid for his freedom. Maturity reflecting a commitment birthed by love, strengthened by grace, endured by submission, surrender, and obedience unsurpassed by those who were once slaves but went back to their private lives.

            This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about in the verse above, the love of a master. Christ so controls us that those who live (giving freedom) may no longer live for themselves but life for Christ who lived only to die, breaking the veil so you and I could have direct access to our Father (God) in heaven. 

            Receive, if not already, your invitation to know and serve Christ more intimately.  Fulfilled in Him (1 Corinthians 7:22-24) 22"For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise, he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called"  That condition...anointed, submitted and surrendered to Him. Do not accept your right to yourself and return to your life as it was before Christ.

Live a life liberated from bondage. (Exodus 21:2-6)

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