| Romans 6:20-23 "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Sin and grace are so different in terms of what they reap and what they result in. Sin reaps shame, while grace reaps sanctification. When grace comes, God will never make us stay the same. It is his desire that we keep growing and getting mature. We used to be the slaves to sin, free from the control of righteousness, following our own heart. It seems to be cool this way, but it actually brings harm to others. Many people who "follow their own heart" would get upset when others also "follow their own heart". Obviously "following one's heart" cannot make people better and let them enjoy more freedom. On the other hand, when we are willing to offer our bodies to the Lord to be the instrument of righteousness, we can be delivered from sin. The Holy Spirit works freely to mold us so that we can become holy and pleasing to the Lord. Secondly, sin results in death, while grace results in eternal life. Verse 23 says: "for the wages of sin is death". The death here doesn't refer to the physical death, but the spiritual one, which stands for the state where we are completely separated spiritually from God. Nevertheless, God's grace can pour down the resurrecting power of Jesus onto us to awaken our spirit and restore our relationship with God. How different the two results are! Each result comes from a choice. We need to be responsible for our choice. Many people overlook the process of making choices, so they cannot experience God's victory in their lives. We need to face different options in our daily life, to be slaves to sin, or to be slaves to righteousness. When troubles come to you one after another, do you choose to be upset and anxious, or to tell your heart to praise God? I remember once Pastor Belinda was sick, so I took the kids from school. When I turned on the tap, only cold water came out. I started to complain in my heart right away. Not only did I complain about the water company, I also complained to God by saying: "Lord, don't I have enough trouble. Now I have to wash dishes with cold water!" The Holy Spirit then reminded me: "Don't you always tell others that the first thing to do every day is to praise God?" I suddenly came back to my senses. After I started to praise instead of complaining, I experienced great deliverance in my heart. Are you willing to choose Jesus and choose life from now on? 
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, your grace brings power to deliver the captured, blind and oppressed. May you help us to choose obedience every day to follow you instead of the trend in the world. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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