Slave: A Better Identity

Most of us have some type of emotion when we hear the world slave.  Often for obvious reasons the word slave has a negative connotation.  Contrary to popular belief all slaves didn't have a harsh life it was directly dependent of the graciousness of their Master.  What is interesting about a slave is that a slave doesn't have identity except for the identity that is given to them by their master.  Slaves had no rights, no privileges, their entire identity was granted to them by their master.  That's an interesting concept.  Many of the apostles refer to themselves as slaves.  To be more specific they referred to themselves as a slave of Jesus Christ ( James 1:1, Philemon 1:1, 2 Peter 1).

To be a slave of Christ was a badge of honor!!  When did that stop being the case?  What they were saying was that they were forsaking whatever prestige, status, ambitions, and desires they had to become a slave for Jesus Christ.  They were giving up their identity for a better one.  So stop looking for your identity in all the wrong places.  People look for their identity on the job, people look for identity in a car, people look for identity in a house, and people look for identity in relationships. These things are not bad in of themselves but Jesus offers you a better identity!!  To be his slave but unlike earthly masters who can be cruel listen to how God describes God's identity is Exodus 34:6 The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.  That's the kind of Master with have the opportunity to serve and did I mention God never changes!!


If you hear nothing else hear this: Jesus Gives Us A Better Identity!  We are all slaves to something might as well be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18)! 

God bless,
Bondservant (slave) Hollis