Romans 6:20-23
Scripture (Romans 6:20-23 ESV): “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Devotion:
Imagine being locked in a dark room, thinking it’s freedom because you haven’t seen the sunlight. That was us, trapped in sin, mistaking the darkness for freedom because we were oblivious to the light of righteousness. In this passage Paul draws a vivid picture contrasting our past enslavement to sin with our current freedom in Christ. This isn’t about switching one form of bondage for another, rather it is a transformation from death to life. We are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the glorious light of Christ.
The “fruits” of our past Paul refers to are the sins we were stuck in before we were born again in Jesus. Those sins and those choices only led to spiritual death. But Paul doesn’t stop at identifying the problem, he rightly points us to the transformation found in Jesus. This shift from slavery to sin to servitude under God isn’t about losing our freedom, it is about finding true freedom. Before we were only ever able to choose evil and sin, but now that we have been set free in Jesus, we are free to also choose good. We are now free to pursue a life that serves God instead of running away from him. And as we serve, we are shaped more and more into the image of Jesus. And the more we look like Jesus, the more we become the people God created us to be.
It’s easy to miss the beauty of this transformation. It’s like trading in a counterfeit coin for a treasure chest. Under sin, we worked hard, earning wages that could only buy death. But God offers us a gift, not wages, in Christ Jesus—eternal life. This isn’t something we work for, it is something God gives us, with love and at no cost to us. But to do that, it cost Him everything. If that doesn’t drive you to serving him, you haven’t understood the very essence of the Christian faith.
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Prayer:
Father God, thank You for liberating me from the chains of sin. I confess that sometimes I reminisce about my past as if it held any real freedom compared to the life You offer. Help me to embrace the freedom and purpose found in serving You. Teach me to value the gift of eternal life in Christ above all else. Guide me daily in living out this true freedom that leads to sanctification and life everlasting. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the Day:
Today, reflect on the areas of your life where you might still be clinging to the “freedom” of sin. Identify one specific way you can practice true freedom by serving God in that area. It might be as simple as offering a kind word instead of harboring bitterness or choosing patience over immediate frustration. Let this act of service be your testament to the liberating power of Christ in your life.