No. 280 - Servants of Righteousness

The Obedience of God’s Will

Servants of Righteousness

Romans 6:16

"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" 

Starting Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to understand what it means to be a servant of righteousness. Open my heart to Your Word and guide me to live according to Your will. In Jesus' name. Amen 

Background

Romans 6 discusses the transformative power of God's grace and the new life believers have in Christ. Paul explains that through baptism, Christians are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, freeing them from the bondage of sin. In verse 16, Paul emphasises that our actions reveal who we truly serve: either sin, leading to death, or obedience, leading to righteousness. 

Be Encouraged

Choosing to obey God leads us on a path of righteousness. Just as a worker chooses to follow their employer's instructions, we must choose to follow God's commandments. Our daily decisions reflect our loyalty, showing whether we serve sin or righteousness. By continually choosing to obey God, we align ourselves with His will and experience the fullness of life He promises. 

Consider a garden: if you neglect it and allow weeds to grow, it becomes overrun and unproductive. However, if you diligently care for it, removing the weeds and nurturing the plants, it flourishes. Our lives are like that garden. When we choose to obey God, we remove the "weeds" of sin, allowing righteousness to thrive within us. 

Application

Reflect on these verses: John 8:34, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin,'" and James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." 

Invitation

If you have not yet committed your life to Christ, I invite you to visit any nearby Church of Christ to be assisted in obeying the gospel of Christ through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of all past sins to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The Lord will add you to His church, where you can continue to learn and grow in your relationship with Him (Matthew 28:18-20). 

For those already in Christ, let us put today's message into practice by striving to be servants of righteousness. May our lives reflect our dedication to God's will, inspiring others to seek Him and experience His transformative power. 

Concluding Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Word and the reminder to be obedient servants of righteousness. Help me to live according to Your will each day, choosing righteousness over sin. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 

May the Lord bless your day. 

Theodore J. Quist  

Evangelist 

Church of Christ 

Abokobi - Accra 

Ghana

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