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Slaves
To God, ...a choice
we make |
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| Phil |
| Posted:
Mar 18 2003, 11:05 PM |
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Archived
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...
here's another exhort i did yonkers ago. I'd
typed up a (very) brief summary on another website,
so it's quite sparse, and none of the quotes
are included, only their references. (Note the lack
of Rom 6 - i decided i'd use a different perspective)
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Deut 15:12-18
Every seven years, Israel experienced the year of
release. Various debts whether material, monetary,
or moral, were to be forgiven. This section tells
of what to do with a servant who had been sold into
the possession of another Hebrew.
Slavery in the land of Israel was not designed to
be a regular occurence, and only two reasons are
documented in the law. Lev 25:39 tells of the case
where a debtor, unable to make good his payment,
could be sold to cover it. The other instance was
in the restoration of goods following a crime (Ex
22:3).
Both cases contain record of a situation where this
servant was in slavery because he had incurred a
debt which was BEYOND HIS MEANS TO PAY. When the
year of release arrives, his master was instructed
by God to release him from the debt and from bondage,
REGARDLESS of whether the debt has been paid. Accompanying
his freedom is enough financial wealth that the
servant can now be independent of his master (v13-14),
and make his own choice about who he wants to serve
- either himself, or his master that lovingly provided
all.
The servant who elects to leaves does so, secure
in the knowledge that he can now do things his own
way, whenever and wherever he wants, but has also
removed all ties to his master. He can no longer
be part of his household.
In contrast, there are three reasons that may make
the servant want to stay (v16):
1. He loves his master. His time of service has
led him to understand the kind of character this
man has, and as such he doens't want to leave.
2. He loves his household. In some cases this may
also include the family which his MASTER has given
to him, and he must give back upon leaving (Ex 21:4-5).
3. He is happy with his master. He prospers with
him. With him he can find the sort of security he
cannot find elsewhere.
In making the choice to stay, the slave makes a
public declaration (Ex 21:6) regarding his wishes,
has his ear hammered up against the door and bored
through as a mark showing his choice, and then must
STAY FOR LIFE.
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We owe to God a debt that for which no restitution
currency exists. All have sinned, all deserve death
as a result. We cannot hope to pay that back.
However, through the sacrifice of our lord jesus,
God has put us in the position of now being able
to make a CHOICE about whom we want to serve. Regardless
of our response, we have been redeemed through Christ's
suffering. (Eph 2:8-9, Roms 5:7)
In going our own way, we can do things how we want
and when we want, but we leave the household of
God. Association with him ends.
OR, we can elect to give our lifelong service to
God. Not one week, not one month, but a lifetime.
Baptism was our public declaration of this, and
the life we lead is the mark we bear. In the finality
of things, we will bear a new mark - the NAME of
god, his nature what will form our being.
Three reasons exist which drove us to make this
choice:
1. We love god. We love who he is, what he purposes,
the way he interacts with his children that he loves.
We love the earth he created, the mercy he shows
us, his continual longsuffering behaviour toward
us.
2. We love his household. Jesus Christ is the chief
cornerstone of God's temple, and the rest of
the church forms the walls and roof. David tells
us in Psalm 27:4 that his one desire is to spend
a lifetime in the temple of God. This family is
one provided by God, one we cannot be a part of
without his presence in our lives.
3. God offers us a future that can be found nowhere
else - eternal life, and the possibility that one
day his "law will be in our hearts" (Heb 10:20something
or other. Incidently, spend some time in Hebrews
10 looking at the psalm 40 connection).
Jesus provided us the perfect example of servitude.
As no one else could, he was able to proclaim in
Psalm 40 that "you have pierced my ear... i come
to do you will oh God, you law is within my heart."
Phil 2:7 tells us that he "took on him the form
of a servant", ie he made a choice to become that
way. Instructing us to do likewise in Matthew 20:26-28,
he informs us of the twofold nature of his purpose:
Firstly, to minister, to become a servant for US,
and provide us with an example.
Secondly to become a "ransom for many." This was
the price which redeemed us, which releases us from
our slavery and provides us with the opportunity
to make our choice. We chose to serve our God. Are
we still making that same choice, every day?
---------------------------------
Digressions - these are a couple of digressions,
some of which i touched on during the talk, some
of which i didn't. They didn't seem to fit
in the above flow of thought.
1. Israel as God's servants. Lev 25:55.
God released them from the bondage of egypt (Duet
15:15) and then spent a long process bringing them
into the promised land. They were given wealth from
Egypt and the land of Canaan, and put in a position
of independence (sort of).
In joshua 24, they were offered their choice who
to serve. They chose to serve god and OBEY HIS VOICE.
This was a public declaration, and not only did
they bear the mark of God (the convenant of circumcision)
but God declared in Isa 43:12 that they were his
witnesses.
2. The prodigal son. Luke 15
In this parable the example of both choices is provided.
The younger son asks for his inheritance and leaves,
in the process almost ruining his life. The older
son stays on...
This parable becomes interesting because the focus
is not on the choice so much its consequences and
subsequent decisions.
Realising the error of his choice, the younger son,
aware of the mercy of his father (yet not quite
its extent) returns and begs forgiveness, which
he receives in abundance.
Having stayed at home, the older son becomes bitter
and twisted and his lack of evident reward, especially
at the return of his brother. He jeapodises his
position in the household through his attitude. |
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