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| “ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s (bond) slaves.” |
| —1 Peter 2:16 |
In our society—especially in these days of rancorous political correctness—the word “slave” conjures up only the most horrific images. The idea that one human being would capture another human being and place that person into forced servitude is abhorrent. Particularly, within the United States, we tend to think of the word “slave” as only applying to the terrible events in our nation’s past regarding those who were captured in Africa and brought to the United States to work in the fields, tending the crops.
But, slavery is not something that is only a part of United States history. And, people from Africa are not the only ones who have been enslaved. Even today, in many places around the world, slavery exists. And, in dealing with the horror of the actions that took place in our nation, we need to keep in mind that the horrors of slavery have existed throughout history, right down to this present day.
Did you realize that the Bible talks about the word “slave” in another very special and tender way? Please read these words from Deuteronomy 15:12-18:
If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free.
And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.
Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
Here we have an account of someone who voluntarily places himself or herself into servitude in order to pay off a debt. The key word: “voluntarily.” Under Jewish law, in the seventh year, this voluntary slave must be set free. However, at the very moment that freedom is possible, the slave may choose to become a “bond slave” for life: “…if your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your family and is well off with you…”
This concept of “bond slave” represents a transformative view of human slavery. It contains all of the elements of servitude, but wraps them in a bond of mutual love and commitment to the complete benefit of both parties. And, this is something that does not happen apart from an absolutely amazing outpouring of God’s grace.
So, when the Apostle Peter writes the words recorded in 1 Peter 2:15-16, you can now understand that he uses the word “slave” in this transformative way:
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s (bond) slaves.
Belonging to God as a bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ is a high honor. We need to forcefully put aside the foolish mindset of our ignorant, politically correct society and wholeheartedly embrace our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom.
Among the good deeds fostered by our love for God and our obedience to Him, we must learn to treat everyone without regard to any differences that some might use, in order to try to pit us against each other. We must show God’s love toward everyone. We must see people as God sees them, through His eyes of love.
Let us live uprightly this day, as those who belong to God through Christ. And, may our good deeds give testimony to the great love of our God.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, September 17, 2015
