The Newness Of Life

 

The Newness Of Life

Romans 6

     It sits itself as a long proverb.  Put off the old and walk in the new.  Those in Rome were encouraged to forsake past sinful paths and run the route which led to freedom.  A Roman flogging about a shameful alley was all sin promised.  That road led to death.  Paul invites those to find the new path out in the countryside.

     He uses servanthood to illustrate.  He speaks in the manner of men to argue a point with them.  Understanding slavery, our master be to death or life.  Sin to death and obedience to life.  As we are given a code book, rules accompany both.  Sin has its “musts” and righteousness likewise.  We decide.  To vacillate between means we get ostracized by both.  Hypocrisy earns laughter from one camp, sadness from the other.

     Dedicated servanthood requires discipline.  Job knew this.  He kept his ways.  The Lord blessed his hand.  Daily obedience is to walk the well-worn path of yesterday with contentment.  Godliness does come with great gain when our energy is focused.  No more stopping to bend to temptation when we have an urgent mission.

     The newness of life is found in His purpose.  “Seek first the kingdom,” He says, “and its righteousness.”  We are to bring everything to Him in subjection.  If we are to know Him as master, then let us lay our land out before him.  Let Him run the plow and turn the soil.  Let Him purge us of rocks and thorns.

     We either sit in the shade and watch wild vines engulf our field or we work to produce an honored crop.  Glory is given by those passing by.  Ones whose eyes have been trained by wisdom.  Knowing the potential of the given ground, they appreciate our efforts.

     We are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses.  Someone is always watching.  Our fields always produce bad or good.  What will the neighbors say?

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