Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 6:18 (New Living Translation)

Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Followers of Christ are now slaves to righteous living. Uh, er, what? Freedom in Christ makes me a slave to something? Some explanation please?

An attempt: as a “slave” to righteous living, righteous living is my owner or master. Let’s use the term “master” to step away from the slavery angst.

Righteous living is my master and teacher—my mentor. I look to it for guidance on how to live and be and interact with others. I look nowhere else. I seek instruction from nothing else and no one else. Righteous living is everything to me.

I no longer look to sin as a guide. I look to righteous living and the Creator of righteous living.

Life is much easier now. I still suffer the slings and arrows of life in this world, but it is much easier.