you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1
Corinthians 6)
When the Lord Jesus died for us on the cross, He rescued us from the
tyranny of Satan and this world. He bought us for Himself at the cost of His
life. This means that we no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to God—
He has every right to our lives.
All too often however, we rebel against His lordship in our life. This only
leads to anguish and grief. An infant is free when he is under the loving
care of his or her parents. In his father’s arms the child is free from hunger,
danger, or anything that would harm him. Away from his parents that child
is in danger. This is also true in our spiritual lives. In Christ, there is
freedom from sin. In Christ, we are protected and kept. Apart from Him we
are open targets. The cost of this freedom, however, is a complete and total
surrender to Him.
The Bible tells us that when we come to Christ, we are to surrender our
right to sin. There are those who claim the right to not forgive an enemy.
Others claim the right to be bitter and envious. Still others want the right to
lust or gossip. Probably the most imprisoned people I know are those who
claim the right to hate their enemy. Paul tells us that, as servants of the Lord
Jesus, we are to surrender these rights to Him.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak
the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. 26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer
steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own
hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as
is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace
to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by
whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put
away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another,