DEVOTION: ARE YOU A SLAVE? BY PASTOR SHADRACK RUTO
Today we live in a world that is saturated with false teachers. In this passage, Peter, the Apostle, writes concerning them. He acknowledges that false prophets existed in ancient Israel, false prophets existed in the first century church, and false prophets are with the church today.
Peter lets his readers know that these false teachers lack the merit necessary to make promises to their followers.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity 2 Peter 2:19a
The cause of their depravity, Peter continues to explain, is their own bondage.
… for people are slaves to whatever has mastered them. 2 Peter 219b
In essence, Peter is saying that you are a slave to that which has overcame you. In other words, if there is anything that you do not have control over, then you are enslaved to it. This is scary, to say the least.
APPLICATION:
1. Is there anything that you are a slave to?
2. May be your answer to this first question is, “Definitely No!” If so, consider the following habits or practices.
a. Do you have control over how long you watch TV or movies? Is TV a major source of distraction in your schedule?
b. Do you have difficultly saying no to your friends?
c. Are you addicted to shopping that any time you have money, you go for shopping spree?
d. Do you have difficulty controlling your anger, gossiping, engaging in negative talk, or cursing?
e. Do you listen to music that you know is not glorifying to God and do you find it difficult to stop this habit??
f. Are you addicted to a certain kind of food and can’t stop eating it?
g. Do you have any bitterness against someone who has hurt you in the past and you have not forgiven him or her?
h. Based on your answer to the preceding questions, can you now admit you are a slave to something?
3. Is it possible that you are one of those believers who say that they do not have time to read the Bible or attend Bible Study? If your answer is yes, answer the following questions.
a. What is it that you do that keeps you away from reading the Bible or attending a Bible Study fellowship?
b. Apart from your business or employment, what else takes most of your time?
c. Based on your answer to the preceding questions, can you now admit you are a slave to something?
4. Ponder over the following verses;
a. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24
b. Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.Romans 6:16-18
5. Is there anything that you will change in your life today as a result of today’s lesson? In other words, how will your life change as a result of this devotion?
People are slaves to whatever
Has mastered them.
2 Peter 219b
This why I ask,
ARE YOU A SLAVE?
By Pastor Shadrack Ruto
http://www.upendochurch.org/
