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Forever a Slave

by Jerry Ousley  
5/22/2010 / Christian Living


Have you ever felt like a slave? Although we live in the country that holds freedom dear more than any other, sometimes we feel like we have been enslaved. For instance, in order to live in our society we have to work. If we don't we won't be able to eat, have a roof over our heads, an automobile to drive and all those nice "toys" we love. Of course there are some exceptions to this rule as with any. In order to pay for all of these things we have to have some kind of income. We can make our boasts about how we won't work all that overtime, or on Saturday or Sunday. We can cite our beliefs, kick, scream and yell, but when it comes right down to it if the boss says we've got to work and we want to keep our jobs (because right now there are hundreds standing in line waiting for it) we have to make a choice. More often than not that choice will be to work because we don't want to lose our income. That can feel like slavery.

What about taxes? We enjoy a lot of benefits in our country. But those things have to be paid for. Setting aside government waste in spending (and there's a lot of that going on) to keep these programs going somebody's got to pay for them. That somebody is us. Most of us work from January to near May just to pay our taxes. We are just now beginning to make money for ourselves. By now we should have earned enough to pay Uncle Sam his share. We protest, complain (Heaven knows I do my share) but the bottom line is that if we want to keep our army strong, maintain all our programs such as Social Security, Medicare and so forth then everyone's got to chip in. There are times it feels like slavery.

The entire one-chapter book of Philemon relates the story of a run-a-way slave. Onesimus had run off from his Christian owner, Philemon. During Paul's day slavery was a common practice. It was widely accepted. I have to believe that Philemon was good to his slaves. But there's something about the idea of belonging to someone else that would make any man or woman rebellious. Who wants to be owned by someone else? Onesimus ran away but apparently had nowhere to go. Paul was even then in prison because of his faith. Onesimus must have heard him speak on occasions when he had visited Philemon and so he found him.

In short, Paul helped Onesimus give his life to Christ. But he had to do the right thing and so Paul wrote this tiny book addressed to Philemon and it was carried back to him by none other than Onesimus. After becoming a believer he returned to his master. We aren't told what happened to him once he returned to Philemon but carrying the letter from Paul was a big help I'm sure.

No man wants to be a slave. However, there is one form of slavery that is an honor. It is becoming enslaved to Jesus Christ. In most cases the word "servant" is used. I suppose that softens the idea somewhat. But the fact is, once we come to the Lord we are voluntarily becoming His slave. He is the best taskmaster we could ever become the property of. He tells us that His yoke (representing our assigned labor) is easy and His burden is light. We are told elsewhere that He will not put more on us that we can bear. Sounds like the best place to work to me.

It is a joy to be a slave of Jesus Christ. Although there may be times when we feel like our life is crashing our Master is always there, kind and gentle, and bringing health and healing to our lives. I love being His slave. He has purchased me with His own blood and I am forever His.

If you don't know Christ as your Savior If you have not become the property of the King of kings, it is something that you'll never regret. Do it today. Accept Him as your Savior and Master and you will be serving One who will never let you down. Become forever His slave.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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