1 Corinthians {9:19} For though I be
free from all yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
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Though I be free from all.
Being free is not being enslaved, not being in debt to anyone. As a slave to another we are compelled by that slavery to serve another or many others. We are forced to do so by circumstances. When we are forced into doing something that is one thing provoking us into action. Voluntarily acting without being forced is a whole new matter. A Christian is any person that takes on Christ's life as their own, Christ's words live in them, in their hearts. Christ was the greatest servant of all and He was the One who least had to be. As God on earth He could have demanded worship and He demanded nothing. He served all and the love He received in return was all He needed. We who claim to follow Christ must also be servants of all, freely giving of ourselves without thought to ourselves and whatever we may gain from any good we do. If we do good for gain we in reality gain nothing, if we are truly servants of all we gain more than we can imagine.
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John {8:33} They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and
were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye
shall be made free? {8:34} Jesus answered them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin. {8:35} And the servant abideth not in the
house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
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If Jesus makes us free we are free indeed. Only through Jesus do we find freedom. Any other freedom is a falsehood. Self deception is something we commit all the time, in fact whenever we feel any self-worth outside of the love of Jesus we are deceived. Only through the grace and mercy of Jesus can we be free of the shakles of sin that weight us down and keep us deceived. God first always. God's will be done, not our will. Easy to say, hard to do and yet it is surrendering our will to His that only makes all things possible. Freedom lies within our service to God, to others. When we seek self less we find so much more than we could ever imagine.
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Matt. {15:7} [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you,
saying, {15:8} This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is
far from me. {15:9} But in vain they do worship me,
teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
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Eloquence is overrated isn't it? The smooth talkers deceive so many with words so pretty and deceptive. Too numerous to count are those who have been seduced by someone who could speak in such a way that they compel the hearer to do as they willed. Those who compel others to believe in their beliefs rather than God are guilty, they sin against God. They may say wonderful things but their hearts are filled with self and only self, not with God at all. Only God should fill our hearts. It's better if we do not speak at all than to speak with cold, empty hearts. God knows our hearts, he knows when we speak sincerely.
By the grace of God may we keep Him forever before us, forever in our hearts and may we speak out of a heart of love finding freedom in Him and only in Him, servant to all.
All glory and praise to God in heaven. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!
Amen!
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