Tag: 1st Corinthians 7:17-23
Serving Christ as His ‘bondservant’!
Scripture reading for September 2nd: 2nd Chronicles 28, 2nd Kings 17, Psalm 66, 1st Corinthians 7
1st Corinthians 7:17-23 “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price, do not become bondservants of men.”
When we come to Christ Jesus and are born again, our lives are changed from slave of sin to free-man in Christ. We are redeemed from slavery and are now free to love and serve God. How do we do that if we are in ‘slavery’ when we were called? This was a real question in the culture of first century Rome. Paul explained that we should remain in our positions and await God’s directions and opportunity. We should serve our masters as unto the Lord Himself to Whom we are now freely giving ourselves as bondslaves. Bondslaves voluntarily agreed to serve their masters for life. Christ purchased us with His own blood and we freely offer our bodies and hearts and souls to serve Him now and in eternity.
Psalm 66:11-12 “You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out into a place of abundance.”
Prayer: Father God, You have brought me and Your people to a place of abundance through the grace offered at the cost of Your Son’s sacrifice. Thank You for this simple instruction to continue serving You as a bondslave in whatever position or lot my life was when I heard and responded to Your call. Help me to humbly serve You each day, through the burdens, trials, water and fires of life. Blessed be Your Name!
2nd Kings 17:37-39 “And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that He wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and He will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner.”