15What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God's wonderful kindness and not by the Law? Certainly not! 16Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. 17You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you obeyed the teaching you received from me. 18Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.
19I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.
20When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. 21But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. 22Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. 23Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bob Dylan sang "you've got to serve somebody". Man, was he right. Who we choose to serve makes all the difference.
Serving ourselves is a possibility. This is the person who claims "I answer to nobody!" The literal translation is...I serve myself. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving the stuff around us (our desires) is a possibility. This is the person who says "I can't help myself!" The literal translation is...I'm an addict. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving God is a possibility. We've already determined the outcome...by faith.
Some say "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". I understand the idea that a "sure thing" always seems better than a promise. In this case...faith trumps a sure thing.
Live boldly out there today...
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