Based on Luke 16:13

MEMORY TEXT:  ”Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

Nothing in creation exists strictly on its own.  Every thing that God has made is subject to a greater power.  For example, every thing on our planet is subject to the force of gravity and to the influence of the sun.  When God created the animals, He put them under the dominion or power of man.  But when man was created, he was placed directly under the dominion of God Himself.  It was on this point that sin entered into the world. You see, the serpent told Eve if she ate the fruit she would not have to do what God wanted her to do, but she would be able to decide for herself what was right and wrong.

Everybody wants to decide for themselves, so Adam joined Eve in her rebellion.  Now both of them thought they would be free from the dominion of God; but when they disobeyed, instead of being free they immediately became slaves of the devil.

This is important:  When a person who is a slave of Satan commits sin, he or she enjoys it.  But when a person who is a servant of righteousness commits sin, he hates it and is repentant.  As servants of God, we love to do His will.  As the Holy Spirit dwells in our lives, we actually begin to hunger and thirst after righteousness; and we begin to hate anything that is not consistent with living a practical Christian life.

As our commitment to Christ continues to deepen and His wonderful work of transforming us continues, don’t be surprised when we are still tempted to do wrong (not only was Jesus tempted in the wilderness, He was tempted throughout His life and ministry).  Yet, as we grow in grace, sin is not as appealing to us as it was before.  Instead of saying to ourselves, I wish I could do this or that, we now find ourselves repulsed by sin.

I often have temptations to do wrong.  But what a joy it is when something deep down inside me says, No!  To a servant of righteousness, temptation to do wrong becomes more and more offensive.  We begin to recognize it as an insult to all that Jesus is doing in our lives.  Today remind yourself that, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).