Bought

The boys and I have been doing a study on slavery. You have heard of how slaves were bought and sold like cattle. Treated inhumanely. Families ribbed apart. Daily lives filled with fear and bitterness, bodies beaten and weary.....Our local library has a treasure of resources. One particular novel had us captivated for days. The Lord lead me on another journey at the same time, reading about different slaves in the Bible; Onesimus and Joseph.There is another slave most people miss when they read God's Word.

Imagine with me a typical plantation, slaves working hard under the overseers watchful eye. And a man walks up to the door of the Big House. He looks like a typical man. He knocks on the Big House door and talks with the master. Later all the slaves are summoned to the yard of the Big House. The master comes out and says that this man has paid for all of them. And all are free to leave with Him immediately. But they must accept that He paid for them in full and walk away from the plantation.

Would the slaves chose to stay with what was familiar or accept and follow the Man? Where would He lead them? Do they fear what He might demand of them? Do they trust He will do right to them? When asked why He bought them the only reply was "I love you." Some ask how much He paid. The tender reply comes, "with my blood" Only then do the slaves notice His hands and His feet and the side pierced.

Ah, now you see where I am going with this analogy. You and I, dear reader, are the slaves we miss in the Bible. See we were born into slavery, slavery to sin and death. But Jesus paid for our freedom with His precious blood. But some deny the Lord that bought them and remain in slavery to sin.

Romans 6:16-23 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Summer of 1997 I was set free. And now I serve a new Master. He is the sweetest Master ever. He loves me more than I can ever imagine and I will serve Him with thanksgiving. The journey with Him hasn't always been what I thought. Some times the way was stoney, the valleys deep and the mountains high. Even a canyon I had to go down into. But He was with me all the way, holding my hand leading me gently.

It is my prayer that if you realize you are still in slavery to sin that you will accept that Christ paid for your freedom. He loves you so very much. If you already walk in this freedom, I pray that you are glorifying God daily. Just like at the end of slavery in this country, as long as we are on this earth we are in the time of recontruction. Freedom is given immediately, but learning to live with that mind set is a life long journey. Don't be discourged when you slip and sin. Remember the overseer has no power over you anymore. Stand up again and get following the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.