MAKING FRIENDS

“Thanks be to God, though once you were slaves of sin, you sincerely obeyed that rule of teaching which was imparted to you; freed from your sin, you became slaves of justice.” –Romans 6:17-18

The Lord reveals that every human being is by nature a slave. We may think we’re doing our own thing, but we’re really doing someone else’s. We don’t have a choice about being slaves, but we can choose whose slaves we will be. We can choose “the slavery of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to justice” (Rm 6:16). If we refuse to choose, the devil will draft us into serving him, and, if we have not chosen Jesus, we can’t stop Satan.

If we choose to be Jesus’ slave (see Col 3:24), we will be exalted (see Mt 23:12). We will possess the most profound dignity a human being can have. At some point, Jesus will no longer call us slaves but friends, since He will have made known to us all that He heard from His Father (Jn 15:15).

The way to friendship with Jesus is through slavery to Him, for Jesus “emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). Therefore, realize that doing your own thing is a deception. Refuse to be Satan’s slave. Joyfully choose to be Jesus’ slave and, eventually, His friend.

PRAYER: Father, may I not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of my mind (Rm 12:2).

PROMISE: “The slave who knew his Master’s wishes but did not prepare to fulfill them will get a severe beating, whereas the one who did not know them and who nonetheless deserved to be flogged will get off with fewer stripes. When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted.” –Lk 12:47-48

PRAISE: Joe was enslaved to drugs, but Jesus set him free.