Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Jason and Michelle have been dear friends to my husband and me for over 25 years. We love them deeply. They are woven into the fabric of our hearts, especially because they stood with us during one of the darkest seasons of our lives. After experiencing the heartbreak of two first-trimester miscarriages, we were shattered. In that moment of grief and helplessness, God placed Jason and Michelle in our lives. They, too, had walked through the pain of miscarriage, and God used their experience and compassion to help us begin to heal. I will never forget how they showed up for us in that season.

Jason and Michelle aren’t perfect—but neither am I. That’s never been a requirement for love or loyalty in our friendship. I am fiercely devoted to them because when I was at my lowest, they loved me without hesitation. Even when I wasn’t easy to love, they were there. And that kind of love leaves a permanent imprint on the heart. We’ve had our differences over the years, but our bond runs deeper than agreement. They are more than friends—they are family. Truly, they feel like a brother and sister to me.

In Romans 5 and 6, we see a powerful picture of Jesus giving His life for sinners like me. The perfect Son of God went to the Cross for my imperfections, and yours too. Because of that, those of us who believe have been set free from death and given a glorious inheritance full of love and power. I was on a path toward eternal separation from God—rightfully so—but Jesus stepped in and rescued me.

That rescue brought me freedom, yes—but it also led me to a new kind of slavery.

Slavery? Yes. The Apostle Paul calls himself a slave of Christ in Romans. He was so overwhelmed with gratitude for the grace he received, so certain of his forgiveness, that he couldn’t help but devote his entire life to the One who saved him. That same joy fills my heart. There’s no other way I want to live but as a servant of the One who set me free.

My freedom wasn’t free. It cost Jesus everything. And now, I want to honor my Heavenly Father with the life He gave back to me. It’s the very least I can do for such a priceless gift. It’s not a burden—it’s an honor to live in obedience to Him. I am deeply blessed to be a Christian. I want to be His slave.

And those friends who helped us so long ago—Jason and Michelle—they are slaves to Christ too. It was their devotion to Him that moved them to love us the way they did.

“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:20–23 (NLT)

Lord, thank You for our freedom in Christ that enslaves me out of thankfulness. May my life honor you.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.