by Prisca | 14 June 2021 08:46 pm06
The word “slavery” may sound harsh, but in the biblical context, it can also carry a positive meaning. Just as people in this world may be slaves to others, Jesus Christ also has His servants those who willingly submit their lives to Him. This is why Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV):
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This passage shows that coming to Jesus means more than just rest it means entering into a new kind of submission or “yoke.” A yoke is a wooden frame placed on the necks of oxen to guide and harness their strength for a task (see Genesis 49:10 for Old Testament imagery). Jesus invites us to take His yoke a symbol of submission to His lordship. Unlike the heavy burdens of sin or legalism, His yoke is gentle and His burden light, reflecting His grace.
Notice Jesus doesn’t say, “I will put my yoke on you.” Instead, He says, “Take my yoke,” emphasizing that accepting Christ’s lordship is a voluntary choice (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 the call to choose life). This reflects free will and personal responsibility in responding to God’s call.
In the New Testament, Paul often refers to himself as a “prisoner” or “bondservant” of Christ, expressing his total commitment and surrender to Jesus for the sake of the Gospel:
Philemon 1:1 (NIV):
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker”
Ephesians 3:1 (NIV):
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles”
2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV):
“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God”
Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV):
“…that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,
so that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”
Paul’s self identification as a prisoner shows that serving Christ involves sacrifice, hardship, and sometimes literal imprisonment, but also spiritual freedom and fulfillment in proclaiming the Gospel (see Philippians 1:12-14).
The “yoke” of Satan is described metaphorically as slavery to sin and its various forms addiction, lust, idolatry, and other sinful patterns. The Bible warns about slavery to sin in John 8:34 (“Everyone who sins is a slave to sin”).
Examples of Satan’s yoke include:
You cannot break these chains on your own because Satan does not want you free. Only Jesus can break the power of sin and set you free.
Jesus said in John 8:36 (NIV):
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
This freedom, however, involves voluntarily submitting to Jesus’ lordship taking His yoke on yourself and committing to serve Him.
In Mark 10:28-30 (NIV), Peter says, “We have left everything to follow you!” Jesus replies:
“Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields along with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.”
Serving Christ may cost earthly things, but the eternal reward is priceless.
Are you a servant of Jesus Christ? Have you taken His yoke, submitting to His lordship? Or are you still under the heavy yoke of sin and the enemy?
Jesus calls you today to freedom, but that freedom comes through humble submission to Him. If you accept His invitation, He will make you His servant, and your reward will be abundant both now and forevermore.
May the Lord bless you richly as you choose to serve Him.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2021/06/14/are-you-a-servant-of-the-lord/
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