Wednesday; August 28

If you haven’t noticed, 2019 marks the four hundredth anniversary of a significant event in North America and the United States in particular.  In August, 1619 the first African slaves arrived on the American mainland.  What began that day has had an impact on our nation and our society ever since. 
Recently, as I thought about the African slaves it reminded me of lesson all of us can learn.  When the Apostle Paul wrote to the earliest Christians, “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Ephesians 6:5-6) he established a standard of behavior for all of us.  By calling upon slaves to remain faithful to God in their condition he challenged all of us to live our lives for God no matter where we find ourselves.  Whether we are enslaved, in prison, in a bad family situation, in a bad work environment, in poor health, in a struggling church – or wherever else we be – our primary responsibility is to live the life we have been called to live by Christ. 
Please do not misunderstand my point from this very controversial and painful part of our American history.  I am not justifying or advocating slavery in any way nor am I diminishing the pain caused by American slavery.  My point is that when it comes to living a life of righteousness we all have an obligation to the Lord.  Put simply, if Paul compels slaves to do “the will of God from the heart” then we, as a free people in a free society, have no excuse.
Think About It!

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