Two Masters Blogged

Scripture Read: Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification

Application: Obedience: ὑπακοή hupakoé - to obey, listen to something, hearken. (to give heed to) Generally in the NT it refers to the obedience of a slave to a master / also - In general, however, this is measured by the attitude of obedience to God; ^[1]

The word “Hearken” really connected here because it carries a sense of urgency with it. Paying Heed – there is a sense of fear and authority – it’s funny when you think of it – We were not the ones honoring the One that has all authority, instead we were submitting to the false master – sin – Then Jesus freed us. Now we have the real master and yet He still gives us freedom. Our old master – sin -  did not – we had no choice. We were bond slaves and made to submit to sins desires.  We obeyed because we had to – but my new Master – the real Master will allow us to return to our old master if we choose to. This is the irony of our life with sin. We can stay with the real Master and Live or hearken to that voice of the old master and die, sorrow, regret … the list is too long. Why do we return? The voice of the old master must be soothing and inviting – maybe like going home – If we walk unconsciously our flesh will just follow it’s nose – We need to live a conscious life  - where the Spirit leads us – His comfort zone is at the feet of Jesus!! 

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Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.