Category: Devotions

When a slave is converted and he becomes a Christian, he may still be a slave to man. But in the eyes of God, he is special. He has been freed from the bondage of sin and given eternal life in Jesus Christ. Such a one its the Lord’s freeman. He enjoys the liberty of having the power to overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom given in God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul addresses those who servants or literally slaves. Were you a slave when you were called, let that not bother you.¹ Upon conversion, they may not feel dismayed for who they are in their lowly occupation. But Christ accord them the same privilege whatever their social status. The beggar Lazarus did not have the good things in this life. He ate from the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. But he was a believer. When he died, he went to heaven. He was comforted in Abraham’s bosom.

Hendriksen observed well, “Paul’s emphasis is on the words calling and called, which relate to spiritual rebirth through God’s Word and Spirit. And calling refers to one’s situation in life. This spiritual rebirth is not merely a vertical link between God and man but also a horizontal relation that extends from a person’s place in life to his or her fellow men. A calling can be understood as a position or a vocation in which a believer lives in obedience to God’s precepts. Paul is saying that “everyone is to remain in the station in which he found himself when he was called.””

The Christian life is the grace of living out the character of God as declared summarily by God in the Ten Commandments even in the Word of God. There is a consistency between the heart and the hand. God is glorified in such a life. The essence of God’s law is nothing less than the expression of God’s character – His holiness and His love. True holiness and true love begins with a transformed heart. There is an inner holiness and love present in the heart. It is not a mechanical outward obedience of the Pharisees. That’s not true righteousness, Jesus pointed out.

The converted Jew should not be ashamed of his Jewish background. His circumcision does not impede his Christian testimony at all. He should accept his past for who he is and rejoice now for what God has done for him in Christ. Likewise, the heathen man who is converted need not follow the Jewish ceremonial law of being circumcised to be accepted into the Christian community. Although salvation begins with the Jews it must by no means be construed that the ceremonial law of circumcision has been carried over to the Christian faith. The Christian is baptised by water as an outward sign of his inward faith. He need not be circumcised following the Jewish ceremonial law. It has been abrogated in Christ.

William MacDonald said well, “There is sometimes a feeling among new converts that they must make a complete break with every phase of their former life, including institutions such as marriage which are not in themselves sinful. In the newfound joy of salvation, there is the danger of using forcible revolution to overthrow all that one has previously known. Christianity does not use forcible revolution in order to accomplish its purposes. Rather, its changes are made by peaceful means. In verses 17–24, the apostle lays down the general rule that becoming a Christian need not involve violent revolution against existing ties. Doubtless he has marriage ties primarily in view, but he also applies the principle to racial and social ties.”

Here is highlighted the possibility of the unbelieving partner getting converted. This should be reason enough for the believing partner to seek to persevere to keep and prosper the marriage. By a good testimony and influence, perchance, God opens his or her spiritual eyes.