In a country in which we hold freedom so dear, it’s difficult for us to fathom that millions of people around the world are victims of the scourge of slavery.
Whether it’s slavery by human trafficking or working in slavery-like conditions — slavery is definitely a 21st-century problem.
Slavery may even be closer to home than we think; it may, in fact, be living right in our own households.
What?
Enslaving others begins when our own hearts are enslaved to sin.
Greed, excessive desire for sexual satisfaction, lust for power, etc., makes slaves out of individuals — who then are so defiled and overcome that they justify enslaving others to fulfill their own overpowering desires.
The fact is we are all vulnerable to slavery because we live in a culture that veils slavery with a promise of freedom.
The Bible says: “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:19).
The belief that “freedom” is the right of an individual to choose to do whatever he or she wants to do is the world’s definition of freedom.
That definition is not accurate — because we choose sin.
Jesus said, “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34).
If we will all take a hard look at whether our “freedom” is enslaving us, we will be that much closer to becoming truly free.
Related: ‘When We Stay Close to God’s Love, We Walk in Perfect Peace’
This self-assessment is necessary on a daily basis because we have such a strong tendency to enslave ourselves.
Our slave masters are as varied as the slaves themselves — drugs, sex, money, love, respect, work, power, family, nature and more. Anything that is most important to us can enslave us.
When we are enslaved, we’re not living in the freedom God intends for us.
Sin is a harsh taskmaster. It works us like a slave until the day we die.
Jesus said, ”if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The Bible encourages us to “stand firm” in our freedom: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
Sin is basically selfishness; and it’s a harsh taskmaster. It works us like a slave until the day we die.
Love comes from God and when we live in it, we are completely free — and we want to see everyone live in the same freedom.
God’s love frees us from the bonds of slavery.
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