So, last night I felt a very familiar tug at my soul. Most everyone probably knows what I’m talking about… pastor Andy talked about it in detail in his sermon a couple weeks ago. Cliché would say the temptations of my flesh pattern “came rearing their ugly head.” But there wasn’t really anything ugly about it at all. Like I said, it was a familiar tug, I recognized it instantly - all of its seemingly glorious perks and releases as well as its downfalls and snares.
In that moment I had the joyous opportunity to pick a master, and for some reason I really favored the idea of a poor decision. But, before I could act on that idea, my heart held to the allegiance it was taught in the following Word:
Romans 6:10-11
“For the death that [Christ] died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
I love that “to” is used here. With that emphasis, it has the distinct aroma of Romans 12:1 and “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Back to Chapter 6 though and verse 16:
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves of obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”
Then verse 21 and 22!
“21Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.”
“22But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”
So - two options:
- go with that which we know has no benefit, brings shame, and results in death… or
- go with Him, which we know benefits liberty, brings righteousness, and results in eternal life.
(Look at the bold phrase highlighted in verse 16 again and then ask yourself this question:)
HONESTLY - Which would you rather have as your master?
For we are slaves to the one we obey.
After pondering this, it was easy to rest in obedience and it was hard to knowingly take action toward shame and death. I found myself in the position for which I was created: my Salvation at the forefront and the focus of my life… my life surrendered as a living sacrifice and offering enslaved to Him… only benefiting liberty, bringing righteousness, and promising eternal life.
I was at a stoplight at the time. I didn’t want the light to turn green, I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want the world to have any influence on my posture at all. I felt I was sitting in the Glory of God as He was gently revealing it to me. It was the holistic position of deliverance.
Psalm 68:20
“God is to us a God of deliverances. And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.”
I pray that we will worship in that position this weekend as a family. I hope we will experience the powerful pulse of obedience in exclaiming “Jesus is the Lord!” whether we shout it out with our voices or wrap our bodies quietly around a redeemed heart.
We’re going to add a new song to the worship set, aptly enough it’s called “Jesus is the Lord.” (see the video below). I hope you will take the time to really worship with it before Sunday. It’s not a complicated song - but it is a triumphant and passionate anthem of His children who desire to live in the truth that He is it, and He is worthy.
I consider this facet of life to be a lot like yoga. The more often we get into the position that joyously places Jesus as Lord, the easier it is to get into that position. Here’s praying that He will victoriously lead us there as a family Sunday morning.
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This is the most awesome song I’ve heard in a long time.