No Longer Slaves

A few days ago I was reading and praying as I normally do and was very much encouraged at a theme that emerged as I read.  I have a Bible that is set up so that I read through it in one year. It has different selections from the Old and New testaments each day.  I found it for ten bucks at Hobby Lobby, hard cover, and I really like it. Anyway on this day one of the readings was from John Ch. 8 where Jesus promises that if we continue in His word we are truly His followers. Not only that but we are set free from the slavery of sin.  I've read that several times before, but this day it stood out to me a little stronger. I read on following my schedule for that day and came to Proverb ch. 5. At the ending section of that chapter is the warning of being ensnared by the "strange woman." The warning is for young men, but really for all of us to be careful not to be seduced by the deceitfulness of sexual immorality. The reason being is that those who do become captured and held with the cords of their own sins. Again, the theme of slavery and the admonition to remain free was in the words and thoughts as I read.  The next section was in Galatians 4. There I read that we are no longer slaves, but sons of God through faith in Jesus as our Savior.  Before we came to Christ we were slaves to that which is only of nature, fleshly, or worse yet, demonic forces and principalities. But now we are delivered from all that and like Jesus said we are now "free indeed."  Then when I got to church later, our worship team led us in a song that declared, "I'm no longer a slave..."
So, I rejoiced as God reminded me of the great freedom that is mine because of Jesus Christ and I write this to remind you as you read these thoughts to not become trapped by the temptations that are all around us. They are lies that tell us we can do wrongs, sins, immoralities of all types and not be affected by them. The truth is that sin traps us and captures us making our wills the slave of all manner of sinful passions and impulses. They have a way of intensifying, and soon we find ourselves in deep sorrow and troubles that hurt ourselves and those most close to us and bring us into the danger of being lost forever in an eternal hell.
So today, remember that Jesus Christ sets us free from all sin and all bondage.  Don't fall for the lie, don't succumb to the temptation. Rather be strong in the Lord, and remain in the freedom for which Christ has set us free. Perhaps today you can believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Confess your sins, ask His forgiveness, and receive Him into your heart. If you're tired of being led around by your own passions and impulses, remember that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self control. Take charge of your mind and soul in the power of Jesus and refuse to go any further down that destructive path.  You are free indeed and by the power of God in Christ, there is no reason you cannot remain free.