Signing The Contract With God

by HJS

In ancient days a person could become a slave several ways. He could fall into slavery as a prisoner of war. He became one when he couldn't pay his debts. Or he could be born to slaves, thereby becoming a subject to his parents' master.

Exodus 21 tells us of a parallel situation. There were times when slaves became devoted to their masters who treated them well. When their time of commutation was completed, some slaves chose to stay in the master's household.

Likewise, for the child of God, becoming a servant of Jesus Christ is a voluntary act of submission. Writing to the Corinthians, Paul said that when you are free and become a follower of Jesus Christ, you become His slave. He says, "You were bought at a price, do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23)

The New Testament uses a well-known analogy, the slave market, as a picture of humanity who has become enslaved by wrong thinking and sinful deeds. He pictures Christ as coming to buy our freedom by becoming a sacrifice, giving His life as the penalty for our sin. His life frees us and makes us new people, but we then become His to command. 

When Bill and Vonette Bright of Campus Crusade were at Princeton, he confronted this truth. One afternoon they sat down and made a list of everything they possessed. As a businessman who new about contracts, Bill made a contract with God, "a contract of total surrender of our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ - to become His slave[s]" as he put it. 

And from the time Bill acknowledged he was a servant of Jesus Christ, he had no problems - only challenges. No wonder he could say, "It is the most liberating thing that's ever happened to me."

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.   1 Corinthians 7:23