Voluntary Slave

Romans 616 Don’t 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. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.There is so much to talk about in these passages of scripture. The main point that I see is that there is no escaping this fact: we are slaves. We are either slaves to sin or to Christ; slaves to death or life. Death is merely the absence of life. Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the LIFE. Take away Jesus (the life) and you're left with death.When we live life our own way and leave God out of it we are making a huge mistake. We become slaves of sin. If you don't believe me, just be honest and ask yourself this question: has there ever been something in your life that you have struggled with but you can't seem to overcome it? For example, you don't want to start a relationship with someone because deep in your heart you know that person is no good for you, but you do it anyways and end up getting hurt. God has a better plan. Become His slave. Being a slave may not sound appealing, but there is no way around it. Why not choose to be a slave of the Master who will never force His will on you? This is on a volunteer basis. If you choose to be His slave, you must live by His rules.... This post got really long. I may have to do a 2nd part to continue with the rest of the wonderful truths found in Romans 6

More Money More Problems

"When I win the lottery, I will be able to do everything I've ever wanted to do." This was a conversation between a friend and I. This friend has played the lottery for a long time now: every Wednesday and Saturday for the past years to be exact. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad. It was so easy to see that his hopes and dreams rested on guessing a series of numbers in order to win millions of dollars. Well, what if he never wins? He would have spent so much time, money, and effort for nothing. His dreams and happiness rest on him becoming rich by winning the lottery. What is he does win? Statistics show that most people who win the lottery spend it all within the first few years. He will be able to travel the world and buy pretty much whatever he wants; but then what? Is that really what life is about? People who place their hope in money just end up being let down. I was never a millionaire, but my parents were good stewards of their money. We had a good life; nice car, nice house, nice family trips. All of a sudden these things were gone. My parents divorced, we lost the house, and we ended up living with my uncle. We went from being a middle class family to a low class family. I learned the hard way that money comes and goes. So many people's dreams and happiness depend on money. Just turn on the radio and you will hear a bunch of songs about money and material things. My happiness and joy does not rest on something as unstable and temporary as money. I can't help but think of my life verse to help illustrate what has been my key to happiness and satisfaction: Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Is It Worth It?

Have you struggled many times asking yourself, "is it worth it?"


There are many questions that you may have had to ask yourself:
Is it worth giving up everything to follow after Jesus?
Is it worth surrendering your life to Him?
Is it worth denying yourself and taking up your cross?


The recent one I have asked myself is:
Is it worth taking a stand for righteousness?


Righteousness means:
acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin


Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


What? Did Jesus really mean that? We can face persecution for the sake of righteousness? By doing the right thing, by acting righteously, we will suffer?


How about the age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people?


Let's look at the story of Joseph to illustrate how this righteousness thing works. Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery and ended up in Egypt. Potiphar, the man that bought him as a slave, had him work at his house. Potiphar's wife had the hots for Joseph and tried to seduce him on several occasions. One day Joseph and Potiphar's wife are home alone and she tries to get him to sleep with her, but Joseph runs away. She accuses him of trying to rape her and Joseph gets thrown into jail...


Let's pause the story for a moment. It seems like God is being unfair. God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery and then thrown into jail for a crime he did not commit. Joseph took a stand for righteousness and look where he ended up: in jail. Had Joseph simply slept with Potiphar's wife, he would not have had to suffer the way he did; or so we may think.


Joseph was upright and did not sleep with Potiphar's wife. She set him up and he went to jail, but God was still with him. I asked myself, what if Joseph had slept with Potiphar's wife? What would have happened to him? God would have left him. They could have gotten caught in the act, and as punishment he still would have ended up in jail (without God's protection), or he could have been given the death penalty.


I am certain Joseph would have preferred a life-time of slavery or prison before sinning against God. He was in chains, but he was at peace with God.


Isaiah 57:2
Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.


Think about that the next time you have to make the choice between standing up for righteousness (doing the right thing), or taking the easy way out.

A Closed Mouth and Silent Heart

My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.... --Psalm 39:3

Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the "get" element mainly. How to get things we want from God occupies most of the space. Now, we gladly admit that we may ask for and receive specific gifts and benefits in answer to prayer, but we must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the making of requests. Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God to a place of such blessed union as makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far short of wonderful by comparison.

Holy men of soberer and quieter times than ours knew well the power of silence. David said, "I was dumb with silence. I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my tongue." There is a tip here for God's modern prophets. The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open. A closed mouth before God and silent heart are indispensable for the reception of certain kinds of truth. No man is qualified to speak who has not first listened. The Set of the Sail, pp. 14-15 

"Lord, teach me to close my mouth. I love to preach; You've given me opportunities to teach; I'm called on to dispense advice and counsel. But the sitting in silence before You, with my mouth closed--I don't do nearly enough of that. Amen."

**A Devotional by A.W. Tozer**

Let's Help Abolish Slavery

It's a dirty subject, but we can't brush it under the rug as if it doesn't exist. The sad and dark truth is that today there are over 27,000,000 slaves in the world. Human beings are being exploited in record numbers. There are more slaves today than there has ever been in history. This is just unacceptable.

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day I would like to help shed some light on this issue. Women, men, and even children are victimized in horrible ways. Women have no other choice but to work in sweat shops. They work 18-hour shifts at less than half of the minimum wage. Little girls are forced to prostitute themselves. After being tortured and raped, these little girls are taught how to sell sexual services to men. There are even documentaries that show brothels being raided and how little girls as young as 4 years of age offer sexual services and the prices. It is sickening.

For ways to become proactive in the fight against human trafficking:
CLICK HERE

Let's pray for God to raise up more organizations like the A21 Campaign. Let's pray for God to raise up godly men and women in government, in the United Nations, and the European Union that will take a stand against human trafficking.

Exciting Things Just Beyond the Horizon

So what exactly does 2012 hold in store for me? I don't know exactly, but I know God is preparing me for great and wonderful things this year.

I feel blessed to have been able to receive the New Year with the best family and friends a girl could ask for. For now I must prepare for my 30th birthday, med school applications, and missions trip to Costa Rica. There is no time to waste.