The Cross 4

Romans 6:21-23

Many years ago we were riding in the car with my mother when we got lost. She had apparently made a wrong turn, but instead of stopping immediately she tried to find her way by making more and more turns. It wasn’t long before we were in a neighborhood we would rather have avoided.

When we find ourselves in desperate situations, times when things seem hopeless, we can look at the decisions that brought us to that place. Few decisions cause complete destruction all by themselves. What is most common is for a person to make a series of wrong decisions, each one taking the person further and further from where they need to be.

Every day, every moment, it would seem, is an opportunity to make a choice. Will we do this or do that? Which is beneficial? Which will cause harm?
Paul addresses this in his comments about how to live life. What does he point out in verse 21? What happens when we become slaves to God? What comparison is made between sin and life in Christ?

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was made so that we might be free of sin. Paul points out the ironic truth of our faith – if we become “slaves,” but we are slaves to God, then we actually are set free from the troubles and heartache sin can cause. If we remain in our old lives, living the way we always have, making the same wrong decisions we have day after day, we are heading in the wrong direction. By clinging to our selfish and sinful attitudes we are moving closer and closer to our own spiritual death.

To gain new life, to be set free from the bonds of sin, to find true peace of mind, we must turn to Jesus and accept his sacrifice. With that we must also accept the resurrection, seeing it as a sign to us of the new life we can have by obeying the Lord’s commands and living as Jesus did.

Paul keeps it simple. The wages of sin is death. If we continue to commit sin and do the wrong things we are faced with our own spiritual death.

If we can turn to Christ and decide to live a holy life, resisting the temptation to do what is wrong, we can find a new life in our Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to become a slave for God?