When you seethe with anger at your enemies, remember:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45 KJV
Also remember, justice will most certainly be served:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19 KJV
All honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I don't agree with the concept that we're slaves to Jesus. We're servants unto him, not slaves. Quite a difference. Servants imply that we willingly want to serve and be a part of Jesus. To be a slave of Jesus would mean Jesus would have to force us. It's not at all what Jesus is about.
Exactly, God gave us free will.
That isn’t my interpretation of the word slave in the context of serving Jesus at all! I use it because I know how sinful, lost, insignificant, and loathsome I am, yet still received God’s grace, and the joy of serving our God in the absolute “lowest” capacity is infinitely better than anything of this world.
OT slavery was also by choice. Specifically to pay back a debt you didn't have the resources to pay back. You traded 7 years of your life and labor instead. Not to disagree with your premise, sister. But the word slavery itself is a form of oxymoron in this case because biblical slavery is not like the slavery we witnessed in America. So we've adopted an improper definition of slave. Much love and respect to you sis. But in OP's defense in the Holy Spirit, we are slaves to Jesus Christ; indeed by choice yet at the same time not by choice for we were chosen. We didn't choose Him but He chose us. There is a lot more grey to this than our black and white idea of servant good, slave bad. When actuality shows that servants can receive wages, yet a slave does not. Yet biblically you are to obey God where He commands proper treatment of slaves (Deuteronomy 15).
My main point in OP's defense is that the Holy Ghost shows us that slavery was indeed voluntary even in Israelite circles. What we did in America was contrary to biblical law. We've created a stain on the word slave whereas in times past. Some slaves enjoyed their master so much God made a law that permitted them to stay for ever with their master if they do chose. Much different than how we record the 1800's. God bless you in Jesus name with the Holy Ghost, sister. Amen.
Do you have Scripture that backs this up?
Look up "bond slave".. the recent versions of the Bible substitute the word "slave" for the word "servant".. Original greek meaning of the word used in this context means "slave".
Jesus is Lord and He expects our obedience to Him, to service to Him, and His commandments. I agree, our service for Him is due to our love of Him.
I am the loving servant of Jesus, not enslaved. Voluntary and unconditional.
^This right here.
Not a slave, not now, not ever. He gave us free will.
I typically interpret the "slave" to another as to mean that "your will is my will" - not a slave as someone forced to labor against their will, but rather, a slave in that your will is completely devoted to achieving another's will - e.g. we all want to achieve God's will, not our own separate will.
Not a slave to JC. He gave us free will and rights.
We are slaves to the govt, taking away our free will and rights.
Amen