No Longer a slave
Slavery still exists today. Thousands of people are being bought and sold each day–a slave to their master, hurt, and filled with fear. They desperately desire to escape and live life with freedom and joy. And as a society, we get to be their voice when they don’t have one. To fight for and save them.
What if I told you that we are all slaves?
It may not look the same. We may have freedom and choices about what we do each day and where we go. But there is still something holding us back from being completely free.
It’s funny, because when I wrote this blog, I never expected for that last paragraph to ever change in my life.
Yet, this idea rings true in most lives right now. We don’t have many choices or freedoms, and we can’t go about our lives normally.
Rather, we are quarantined. Strongly urged to live our lives socially distant from others. Trapped in our houses, unable to move about freely as the coronavirus runs rampant.
Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we’re understanding the beauty of freedom.
And there’s good news here!
We may be slaves, but freedom awaits.
You’re probably thinking, what is this slavery you’re talking about?
Darkness surrounds this world. It’s easy to see that the moment a news station is turned on. Questions surface like what is my purpose and are these mundane everyday tasks really all there is to life?
The answer to those is no!
See, the darkness and bondage we’re enslaved to is sin.
But the person who spoke up for and saved us is God.
Sin is anything done that does not meet the criteria of a holy God. We miss the mark. Don’t measure up to the standard expected of us.
Each one of us is guilty of committing this felony.
We lie, curse, cheat, envy, lust, get angry, are prideful, and the list goes on.
Because the mark is missed, we don’t have the opportunity of being in relationship with God and meeting His approval. The only way to change that is through a perfect, blood sacrifice.
You’re probably thinking, well this is depressing. I’m not perfect so there’s no way to be right with God.
This is where the “…” comes into play!
All this darkness and despair makes life feel hopeless …
BUT!
God himself stepped in and saved the day. The one who is holy and perfect sent His son, Jesus, as the blood sacrifice so that we could be in a right relationship with God.
How cool is that?!
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Even while we were making mistakes, God wanted to show us His immense love by providing a way to break the chains of our slavery and give us freedom.
There was no reason we were deserving of rescue. But God’s grace and love stepped in. He looked at each person and said despite their mistakes and failures, I want them. I want him. I want her.
The life and hope that the truth of the Gospel brings is beautiful.
This series is meant to show us how regardless of life’s circumstances, God’s given us His promises, life, and hope.
Once we were a slave to sin…but God redeemed us and has given us a chance to be saved!
~Laura