Romans 6:16 - Who Is Your Master?
Romans 6:16 (NIV) Dont you know that when
you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as
slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey -
whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death,
or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16 (NLT) Dont you realize that
you become the slave of whatever you choose to
obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to
death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads
to righteous living.
INTRODUCTION
All people have a master and pattern
themselves after him. Without Jesus, we would have no
choice; we would be enslaved to sin, and the results
would be guilt, suffering, and separation from
God. Thanks to Jesus, however, we can now choose
God as our Master. Following him, we can enjoy
new life and learn how to work for him. Are you
still serving your first master, sin? Or have you
chosen God? [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Yielded To God
Eric Liddell, the missionary and great
runner whose story is told in the film Chariots of
Fire, someone has said, he was "ridiculously
humble in victory, utterly generous in defeat."
That's a good definition of what it means to be
meek. Eric Liddell was fiercely competitive,
determined to use his God-given abilities to the
fullest. But his meekness, kindness, and gentle
spirit won the admiration even of those he
defeated.
Meekness involves being yielded. The word
yield has two meanings. The first is negative, and
the second is positive. On one hand it means "to
relinquish, to abandon;" on the other hand, it also
means "to give." This is in line with Jesus'
words: "He who loses [or abandons] his life.., will
find it" (Matt. 10:39).
Those who submit to the will of God do
not fight back at life. They learn the secret of
yielding - of relinquishing and abandoning - their
own lives and wills to Christ. And then He gives
back to them a life that is far richer and fuller
than anything they could ever have imagined.
Well never regret yielding to the will
of God. We trust Him with our lives, knowing
that anything of value we lose will be restored
(Joel 2:25). There is freedom in yielding that
cant be found in fighting for control. [Hope for
Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
Very many who profess to be servants of
Christ are none of His. They are deceiving their
souls to their own destruction. While they profess
to be servants of Christ, they are not living
in obedience to His will. "Know ye not, that to
whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his
servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Many,
while professing to be servants of Christ, are
obeying another master, working daily against the
Master whom they profess to serve. "No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to
the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon."
Earthly and selfish interests engage the
soul, mind, and strength of God's professed
followers. To all intents and purposes they are
servants of mammon. They have not experienced a
crucifixion to the world, with its affections and lusts.
But few among the many who profess to be
Christ's followers can say in the language of the
apostle: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world
is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." "I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
Himself for me." If willing obedience and true love
characterize the lives of the people of God, their light
will shine with a holy brightness to the world.
{2T 442}
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 6:16 - Who Is Your Master?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130721-1528.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
