How To Actually Be Enslaved and Free

Enslaved and free?

Aren’t the two concepts mutually exclusive?

Not really.

In fact, in God’s contrary-to-the-world kingdom, the two are not only compatible, but also necessary for those who would follow Christ.

As I continue to squeak in time to work on the next Miller’s Creek novel STILL I WILL FOLLOW and its companion devotional WHERE FREEDOM DWELLS, this fact keeps appearing again and again as I spend time in God’s Word.

As Christ followers, we are completely enslaved to One, and that One has made us completely free.

Let’s look at some Biblical examples of some who were both enslaved and free.

Enslaved and #Free? Devotional post by @Cathy_Bryant here:
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Enslaved and Free: Joseph

Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob, who had twelve sons in total. As his father’s favorite and the recipient of a coat of many colors, Joseph quickly became a target for his jealous brothers.

They were so envious of him that they sold him into slavery and told their father he’d been killed by a wild animal.

Joseph’s problems were far from over. Though God was with him, his master’s wife falsely accused him, and this landed him in prison for thirteen long years.

Yes, Joseph was both a slave and a prisoner, but God set him free and used these painful years in Joseph’s life to prepare him for saving many people during a devastating regional famine.

Though Joseph was physically enslaved, spiritually he was enslaved to only One–the only One who mattered.

That one choice made all the difference in Joseph’s life.

Enslaved and Free: Daniel

Daniel was also enslaved, but to the ruler of the known world at that time, King Nebuchadnezzar.

In spite of the edict for Nebuchadnezzar’s trainees to be fed from the king’s table, Daniel acquired permission to eat only vegetables and water. We might consider that a pretty stringent diet by our American standards, but God used it (and Daniel’s heart for Him) to raise Daniel and his friends to the top of the class.

Daniel also proved the importance of his enslavement to God through the ordeal of the lion’s den. He continued to pray to God despite an edict that required him to pray only to the new king, Darius. Through his relationship with God, Daniel escaped snack status for the hungry lions and proved once more that being God’s servant made him truly free.

Enslaved and Free: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Three of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were also slaves. They too remained true to God, a fact that landed them in a fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. The preincarnate Christ endured the ordeal with them and delivered them. Not a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing never even reeked of smoke.

They were set free by the One to whom they were enslaved.

Enslaved and Free: Paul

The story of Paul’s miraculous conversion is certainly one for the record books. Zealous for God, he set about to destroy the sect of Jesus followers known as The Way.

While the early Christians saw Paul as a murderous enemy, God saw someone He could use.

After his conversion, Paul enslaved himself fully to Jesus and set about to make Him known. As is always the case for those who live wholeheartedly for Christ in enemy-occupied territory, Paul quickly found himself in trouble.

One such instance landed him and his fellow-believer, Silas, in jail. Though suffering from a severe beating, Paul and Silas used their captivity and their freedom to pray and sing praises to God while the jailer and other prisoners (a true captive audience!) listened.

Once more the One to whom they were enslaved set them free, and in the process the jailer and his whole family became believers.

Enslaved and Free: Jesus

As is always the case, Jesus is our best example. The Heir to Heaven, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of His Father, came to earth as fully human as you and I, and became the greatest example of servanthood who ever walked the planet. In His own words, He put it this way:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Enslaved and Free: The Lesson For Us

This probably goes without saying, but if even our Savior lowered Himself to the position of being a servant, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same?

Only in God’s marvelous kingdom can we be both enslaved and free. And by being enslaved to the Lord, we serve Him by following Christ’s mission to serve others.

That’s why I’ve decided that the tagline for STILL I WILL FOLLOW will be:

“Enslaved to One, servant to all…”

Coming Soon: STILL I WILL FOLLOW #MillersCreek 7 “Enslaved to One, servant to all…”
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