Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth; everyone who sins is a slave to sin." John 8:34 (NIV)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Freedom and democracy are the main goals of modern society in some countries. Some countries have free speech, or freedom of the press, and other countries have no freedoms at all. The Russian politician and leader of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Vladimir Lenin, wrote: “It’s impossible to live in the society and remain free from the society.” An example of this would be a journalist working for a newspaper. He depends on the employer, but the journalist can change the work place. The same is true concerning religious liberties.
What about the freedom of man’s actions? When is a man free to choose how to act? The answer seems easy –when there is no law to direct otherwise.
The Bible says that you are always a slave. You are a slave to sin. “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34). A slave fulfills somebody else’s will, not their own.
We can follow our own desires, or we can fulfill the will of God. This is not a dilemma for the believer. We certainly should follow the will of God, but here comes the problem. The apostle Paul said, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19). Thus, every one is a slave to sin as we live in the flesh. This sin is inherited from our first father, Adam. It is sin that leads to punishment, and the only punishment for sin is death.
In spite of where we live, and the freedoms we enjoy, we still remain a slave to sin. There is no revolution capable of overcoming that slavery. There is no law capable of demolishing it. So, what can we do? Is there a way to become free? Yes, there is, the Bible says that where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom. St. Paul found liberation from the slavery of sin in our Savior Jesus Christ. And this is the way for us, too.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit that we may obtain true freedom in Christ! Amen.
Biography of Author:
Yevgeny Kharkhardin was born in Moscow in 1969. In 1990, Yevgeny came to Christ and was baptized. He has worked with LHM--Russia as studio director and film producer, and he now serves as the pastoral assistant at a Lutheran parish in Moscow. Yevgeny is married and has three children.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Lamentations 3-5 Hebrews 13
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