2 PETER 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
TO PONDER
What are you a slave to? For most of us, our immediate response is probably 'nothing!' but let's take a moment to look and dig a little deeper.
What is the greatest love of your life? Is it your spouse or your family? Perhaps it is financial success and freedom? Maybe reputation and recognition are the things that drive and motivate you. None of these things, in and of themselves, are bad. However we were created to worship and having rejected the original focus of our worship, our God and creator, we have all turned to other things to 'worship' and find meaning and purpose for our lives.
Don't get me wrong, you should love your family and be dedicated to your spouse. You should work diligently at your job as if working for the Lord. You should build a good reputation for yourself because as one of his disciples, your own behaviour either reflects or obscures His love and mercy. But we can only rightly and freely pursue these things without fear that they may end up enslaving us, if our first love is God. We have no hope of leading others to Christ, if we ourselves are being led by other masters.
Submit yourself first to God, then allow him to point you in the direction of the 'others' he would like you to serve with the gospel. In the midst of all that you can rest assured that God will attend to your needs and the needs of your family, your career, income and reputation. It may not look the way you planned, of we really trust that Gods plans for us are good, why would we not seek to live and walk in His plans anyway?
PRAYER:Lord Jesus, sometimes I can be blind to the thinks that have a hook in me and are leading me in directions that are not part of your plan for me. Please help me today, and every day, to freely submit myself and my plans for the day to you so that I might walk in your plans and serve only you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle