Slaves of Some Master

Readings:
Ezra 8
Romans 6:15-19

Focus:
Romans 6:16: "You know well enough that if you bind yourselves to obey a master, you are slaves of the master you obey; and this is true whether the master is sin and the outcome death, or obedience and the outcome righteousness."

Everyone serves some master, whether they realize it or not. Everyone is a slave to something. Until we give our lives to God, we are slaves to sin.

Maybe we never commit any outrageous sins such as embezzling or cheating or stealing. Nevertheless we are still slaves to sin; we are unkind or selfish or thoughtless. But once we give our lives to God, we are freed from that slavery. Then we get a new master, and that master is goodness.

What a difference! We may still sin, but we will no longer be lost in sin; we will be able to pick ourselves up with God's forgiveness and try again. Goodness is a much better master than sin.