Monday - Romans 6:12-18

Ok... so this is one of those passages that you have to read and read again and again if you're really going to understand it.  You might even have to read it in another translation or two to make some sense of it.  I read it in the NIV and Message translations.  It's not hard to do that just in case you're wondering.  Just go to www.biblegateway.com  You can read it in dozens of translations there.  

So here's the jist.  It's pretty simple once you get your head around it.  It really comes down to once basic question: 

- Who is in charge of my life or who is my master?  (who's calling the shots)

Paul, the writer of this book makes it clear that God wants to be in control of every detail of our life.  That might ring of someone we might call a "control freak", but it's really quite simple.  Think of it this way...

In the day and age in which Paul was writing it was common for people to become a slave, to willingly become someone's slave or servant.  Their pay was room and board (a place to sleep or food).  In return they would do whatever work was required.  Paul, in this passage, makes it pretty clear that when we choose to serve Christ, be a Christ-follower, a legit Christian, we are actually choosing to make the same commitment to Christ that a slave would make to their master.  Wow!  That's the kind of commitment that Christ demands from us.  It's this all-encompassing, all-consuming commitment to live for God no matter what.  

Why would anyone do that?  Well, it's not hard to understand if you remember all that Jesus has done for you on the cross and all that He continues to do.  It actually makes perfect sense to give your whole self to the one who gave His whole self to you.  This path has short-term challenges that lead to long-term happiness in the form of our stay in heaven one day.  Pretty cool.  

In contrast to being a slave to Christ, we can choose to be a slave to ourselves.  What does that mean?  Simply that we are slaves to whatever pleases us at any given time.  Of course, that can have its advantages at times, but it ultimately leads to one becoming a slave to sin, which in the end leads to death.  This path has short-term benefits with long-term consequences that are not cool.  

So again, ask yourself one simple question in response to this passage.  (or a couple)

- Who is in charge of your life?  

- Who is in charge of every, single, little detail?  

- Are you literally a slave to Christ?

- What do I have to do today to become a fully devoted follower of Christ?   

Put it into practice today.  Love you guys.  

PE