Excerpt from "OUR JOURNEY: A Daily Walk in the Word"

The following text has been taken from "OUR JOURNEY: A Daily Walk in the Word"

"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. . . .For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." Romans 6:17-19


Even though I don’t know you personally, I know something about you if you’re a believer in Jesus. I know there was a time in your life when you hardly thought about sin at all. You may have felt some vague guilt pangs or regret when faced with a consequence, but as a rule you did not experience conviction.

When you came to Jesus, however, all that changed. Before receiving salvation, you could say and do things without a second thought, but now the Spirit convicts you of what is wrong. Before, you seldom thought about sin, but now you see it everywhere—especially in your own life. Romans 6:17-18 describes this swap of perspectives: “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin . . . having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

Before we know Jesus personally, we’re slaves to sin and hardly think about righteousness. After we come to him, we’re slaves to righteousness and frequently think about sin.

Are you a slave to righteousness? Perhaps you’re not sure. Take this three-point test: I know I’m a slave to righteousness if . . .

• I’m acutely aware of unrighteousness in me. When you sin, there is this mega-conviction thing that happens. Your heart is grieved.

• When I’ve sinned, I have to make it right. You feel the need to ask for God’s forgiveness first and then to make restitution with anyone who was harmed by your sin.

• When faced with a decision, I ask, “What would please Jesus?” Real slaves to righteousness want to do what pleases the Lord.

A slave can serve only one master. You either serve sin or serve righteousness. In the same way, only Jesus can be first in your heart; he can’t be second or third. Being a slave to righteousness doesn’t mean you don’t struggle with sin, but it does mean that the growing passion of your life is to serve, honor, and please your master—Jesus—in everything! —James MacDonald




seeking: Father, what truths about your righteousness have I just been thinking of? What thoughts about my own righteousness?


responding: In what areas of my life am I still a slave to sin? Galatians 5 talks about having the fruit of the Spirit. What fruit of God’s Spirit do I see in my life?

I praise you, Lord, for the victory that you won over my sin through your death and resurrection. I desire nothing more than to serve you. You are my master, and my life is yours to lead.


following: Slave to sin or slave to righteousness—it’s your choice.




*Text excertped from http://www.rbc.org/ourjourney/today.php