Wisdom From John
Do we really want to be Slaves?
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey…" (Rom 6:16)
In Exodus, we read that God set His people free from their Egyptian slave masters and put them on a path toward the promise land. It was by a demonstration of His mighty power that God broke the yoke of slavery and set the captives free. An interesting aspect of their release from slavery is that it seems like God also got the Egyptians to pay for the bus ticket out of town …"The Israelites …asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing … and the Egyptians gave them what they asked for…" (Ex.12:35-36).
I have always found it interesting that before the Israelites could make it out of the country of Egypt they wanted to return to slavery. "They said to Moses … What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Ex.14:12-13).
What I have recently learned is, the trip to the Promise Land could have been made in less than two weeks if God had taken the shortcut. "God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Ex.13:17).
So what did God do…He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years. A forty year trip oppose to a two week hike seems like a mean trick to me but God had His reasons. Biblical scholars give several reasons why God took the long way around and, like them, I have a few thoughts about God's reasons, but let's save them for another day.
What interest me is the Israelites desire to return to slavery. Even more intriguing to me is the fact that many people today have the same mindset; they would rather be enslaved to another, than free. In America today the burning desire is not for freedom, but for entitlements. In America today it is not liberty that is sought, but people are looking for "cradle to grave" governmental assistance.
Sadly, today this mentality runs rampant through the American church. The American church wants multi-media sermons, dynamic bible studies, and no obligations to serve. Most are happy to sit in the pews while others do the heavy lifting. Feed me the word, make me feel good, but don't ask me to sweat.
How's this slavery you ask? When we become dependent upon others we are obligating ourselves to them and we wrap ourselves in the chains of dependency. If I do not study the scriptures myself and only listen to my teachers, then I am enslaved to their theology, their way of thinking. If I do not seek understanding and wisdom I contribute nothing to my spiritual life; I can only repeat what I have been told by the one who I am enslaved to and I do not think my own thoughts.
Throughout the Word of God we read that God wants us free; free from sin, free from bondage, free from fear, and free from many other things. In Galatians, Paul tells us "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1)
Jesus set us free so that we could to be mature, spiritual adults able to battle the attacks of Satan. God has given us the armor with which to fight the enemy and He has filled us with His Spirit so that we can defeat the enemy. So why are so many Christians walking around in defeat? Simple answer….because they are more comfortable being slaves; old habits are hard to kill and living in Egypt is better than walking the in desert or the Unknown.
So, I challenge all of us to be bold, evaluate our spiritual walk and ask ourselves, "What am I enslaved by?" We all have areas that need improvement. We all know what controls us whether it is food, lust, welfare, ignorance, laziness or sports; we all know the chains that hold and enslave us. It is time to break those chains and become free to serve the one who gave us freedom. It is time to grow up and step into the unknown, trusting God to lead us. Be brave for God is with us; how can we fail.
Just a thought from my week.
Johnboy ICWAO@hotmail.com
