Whom will you serve?

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
Jesus emphatically said, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Paul the apostle writes to the church in Rome, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.” Bob Dylan reminds,
“You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody….”

There is no way around it. Whether atheist or agnostic, priest or convict, rich or poor we are all prisoners of our sin nature or freemen through the blood of Jesus Christ and bound to his ways. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commands.” (John 14:15)

You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody's landlord you might even own banks.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

The choice laid out is clear either we are slaves to our flesh or we choose to obey the commands of God. The difference, however, is that now through the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit received when we (with faith) ask Jesus. We are now able to cast off the chains of sin that held us captive and become slaves of His righteousness recalling the promise, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)
The question now before you and me now that we are free from sin, how will we use our freedom? Will we love the Lord with all that is in us? Will we love our neighbor as our self? Will we tell others? Will we make disciples? Or like the dog will we return to our former sins? (Proverbs 26:11)

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
“Gotta Serve Somebody,” Bob Dylan

Father, help us to understand that what the Son sets free is free indeed. We are free to tell the world through our actions and our character that we no longer are slaves to sin but rather servants of the most High God, to the glory of Your Name! Let us never forget. Amen.