NOW

Many of us can relate to feeling like we've been a slave to something. What or who has been your master? The admiration of peers? The attraction of a man? The master of exercise? The master of food? The master of controlling your body weight? The master of cosmetic changes? There are so many masters to choose from. 

There were just as many masters when Paul wrote to the Roman church about how different life is once you're free. It was crazy then that people "went back" to their masters, and it's crazy now. Why do we go back? 

Being Fit 4Faith is really about learning to let God be the Master of our physical self.  Could I ask you to read the passage below slowly, maybe even twice? As you do:

• underline the first question 
• circle anywhere it says "But"
• underline any prepositional phrases that start with "to _______________" (plus a noun)

Romans 6:16-19

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?  But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.(emphasis mine)

If we have been freed from sin, we can throw off old weights of worldly ways of thinking that weigh us down with twisted expectations and distorted standards. Even when it comes to our bodies, we can offer ourselves as slaves of righteousness that will lead to honoring God with our physical living.


Now go back and read the last sentence again ... the one I made bold. What word did Paul use to tell us when to stop acting enslaved to old masters and start living like we're slaves of righteousness?  It's only one word, and it's so easy to remember.

The best time to stop making our bodies yield to old masters and start yielding to God? NOW.

I don't know about you, but it gives me a lot of confidence and joy to know that I don't have to obey old influences. It's FREEING to know I only have ONE Master to honor with my life. 

How about you?