Listen

Now that you have been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (I’m speaking with ordinary metaphors because of your limitations.) Once, you offered the parts of your body to be used as slaves to impurity and to lawless behavior that leads to still more lawless behavior. Now, you should present the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness, which makes your lives holy.

Romans 6:18-19

Think

Slavery in first-century Rome was no less barbaric and appalling than in seventeenth-century America or any other misguided moment in history. In fact, it was not only horrendous but everywhere — in private homes, mines, factories, farms, government, engineering projects, and more.

Maybe in using a monstrous yet familiar metaphor, Paul wants his fellow Romans to see how ever-present this decision is. Deciding between a life of destructive fear and a life of healing grace does not just happen at church. It happens literally everywhere! We continually offer our lives in service to something, Paul says.

Offering ourselves in service to God’s love and grace doesn’t happen once, but a million times — the friends we spend time with, books we read, careers we pursue, clothes we wear, causes we support, people we help, voices we listen to, music we love, and the words we choose. To whom and what are you offering your life? The culmination of those things will either trap you in patterns of hurt and fear or set you free to join in Christ’s healing love.

Blake Tommey

Pray

Inviting God, fill me with your mercy and goodness all of the million moments in my day. Little by little, again and again, I will choose my freedom and offer my life in service to that great goodness, because of Jesus. Amen.

Go

I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

from “I Shall Be Released” by Bob Dylan, 1967