Slavery does not come with a positive reputation, does it? Slavery means that you are not in control of yourself,and you have literally lost freedom.
“Jesus replied, I tell you the truth everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” – John 8:34
We get ourselves in trouble when we can’t control our selves. Sin gets us into trouble because we are born in slavery to it.
“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.” Romans 7:14-16
Do you think that sounds like someone who is in complete control? The sin nature likes to make us its slave. God has made a way out. He did not forget His people and He has not forgotten you. We really can walk in freedom and, as a result, reflect God’s glory.
Be Free
In Exodus 14, we come to story about the Israelites and God’s desire for their freedom. For hundreds of years the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. They were accustomed to the life of a slave and probably didn’t even know any better. When Moses came to rescue them, there were mixed feelings about it. They seemed to be content to just keep the Egyptians happy and live their life. God had a bigger plan. God wanted His people to follow Him and He would save them. He would give them freedom and fight for it!
What is hindering you from running free; from being who God is calling you to be, even now? Are you free?
The Israelites were free and they started moving away from their slavery, as God lead them. Except now they were up against a new challenge. God had led them to some water with the Egyptians closing in behind them.
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:13-14
Your response to the pursuit of your enemy– Be still
Be Still – Let God
This hinges on some trust, doesn’t it? God reminds them that this is His battle and that He will save them.
God’s plan was a bit unheard of. Moses was going to part the water. The land became dry! God had done what He said He would do. What about for us?
After you are free from sin there are still things that pursue us. The ways of the world do not leave us alone. The appeal is there, but it is the difference between just sort of surviving, or getting by, and actually living free.
God knows exactly what it is you are facing and the answer for you is the same: “Be Still.” Stop trying to figure it all out or fix it all. Stop trying to be everything to everyone and instead follow God. I would rather be free in God’s will then in slavery outside of it, wouldn’t you?
What a sight this was! The land is dry and out they go. You notice this all hinged on Moses following God’s Word. We listen and do what God commands, as radical as it might seem sometimes, and He takes care of the rest.
Let God’s glory Be known
As we do His Will, He gets the glory. As we trust Him, He gets the glory. As we stand up for what is right, He gets the glory. What I mean is it is like our lives shine a spotlight on God! There is something different about someone who passionately pursues Jesus Christ. It is contagious.
At the end of this story we see the people having a renewed fear of God because salvation had come. God had done the impossible by saving them from their slavery.
The same is true for us. When we were born we were dead in our sin. Sin destroys and pulls us away from God. Jesus Christ has bought our freedom with his blood on the cross. We are set free.
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:18
We are not slaves to sin anymore, but we are slaves to righteousness. This is life-giving. This is where forgiveness from sin is found.
When you trust Jesus you have a new master. You are free! There is no need to go back.
You see, just like the Israelites, we are pursued by things that want to make us slaves again. We must not go back!
We make choices. Either we live in freedom, as God has arranged, or we choose to ignore his ways and get all tied up in sin. If we choose to let the world dictate what we do, our sin nature takes over. To live free is to decide to follow God’s ways no matter what! To live free is to accept that abundant life that Christ gives to us and to never turn back. If we let the devil and the world have too much control, it will be much harder to gain it back.
No Throw Aways 