“AM I FREE?”- a timeless question for ourselves.

We live in a world full of addictions. It may be addiction to alcohol, addiction to smoking, addiction to stealing, and even addiction to gambling. There are also few good believers who are addicted to cell phones, to Facebook, to twitter and some to their laptops and not to mention some to SIN!!!

Before I had received Jesus as my Lord and Savior I was addicted to so many things of this world like smoking, alcohol, drugs, gambling and violence. I knew all that was wrong and I was constantly taught by my parents not to indulge in such sinful deeds. Even before I wanted to come out of it I was deep drowned into them. I wanted to come out of it but was unable to. But His grace was right on time to save me. Thanks be to Jesus who came into my life as soon as I opened my heart and welcomed Him .And the moment He came, everything that held me captive was broken. I was free from all my bondages and addictions. Before the start of this year, I was waiting in the presence of God and He gave me a word saying ‘I want you to be my bond servant.’

Well, I had been wondering for years as to why a born again believers do something that grieves God by doing something that He doesn’t like (sin). After a lot of thinking I have come to a conclusion that a born again believer commits sin not because He has to but he wants to. You as a child of God commit sin because you deliberately choose to do it to satisfy your self-centered desires.

You are slaves to righteousness:

Once we were committing sin because we were slaves to it. Sin ruled and reigned over us but the moment you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are set free from the slavery of sin and become slaves to righteousness. Therefore, as slaves to righteousness you love what you hated once (righteousness) and hate what you loved once (sin).

Rom 6:18: You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

It is hard to be slaves to righteousness because we have a sinful nature and this nature loves sin and hates righteousness. So, you don’t have any other option than to tame your body and make it your slave (under your control).  It was the same case with Apostle Paul; he said the things I don’t want to do, I end up doing so, and the things I want to do, I am unable to do. Rom 7:15

So,what to do now?

Rom 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

After you have offered your body to God completely, then Gal 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As you have entered into this new year, I want you to realize that you are bound to God to live a righteous life. You are bound to worship God, you are bound to glorify God in everything that you do and say. You are bound to serve God with all that you have, you are bound to fix your eyes on Jesus and run a race that God has called you to. You are bound to be faithful in everything that God has given you (family, job and ministry).

Have a blessed year ahead!