Joanne Sher: Editor/Proofreader : Monday Manna

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in your comment (there have been problems with Mr. Linky), and check out others' thoughts.

This Monday's verse is a very thought-provoking one.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:18 NIV

My thoughts are below. Looking forward to reading yours!

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We like to think we have control of our lives: that we're free to do what we wish and control our own futures. That we choose the course of our existence and are masters of our own destinies.

But we aren't. We aren't truly in control, or even in charge. Every one of us is a slave.

Despite what my children (and occasionally I) may think, the world does not revolve around them. Everything on this planet is affected by hundreds of factors beyond its control. I can't change the weather, my husband's mood, gas prices, or the airplane above me. But they can change me.

These factors, however, are minor in comparison to the affect sin can have on humankind. And no one is immune.

Though some philosophers deny it, sin has been an issue (and a big one at that!) since birth, if not earlier. At the center of each of us--at the very essence of our being--is a sin nature. Note that. Sin is our natural state. It is our essence. We are slaves to it. It is the only nature we know.

Until God made a way.

Not from anything we did. Not because we deserve it. Because of Our Lord's great love for His creation. He gave us a way to loose our shackles from sin. Because He died to take our punishment, we are not longer enslaved to our evil natures.

Yet, we are still not free--but our taskmaster loves us. He cares for us more than we care for ourselves, than we care for anyone. And he is loving and gentle.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Our yoke - our enslavement - is from the Lover of our souls. And there is no kinder master.

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Thanks for reading! Please put a link to your post in a comment on this post, and read some of the others' thoughts.

4 comments:

Patty WysongJune 15, 2009
Oh, Jo! I love how you tied our enslavement to the yoke we have--and that Jesus gives us rest! So cool!! Makes me want to dance! :)

I was able to post on this:
http://pattywysong.blogspot.com/

Huggles!
Lynda SchultzJune 15, 2009
Imagine throwing yourself into the arms of a slave Master—it makes sense what that Master is Jesus.

Thought-provoking, Joanne.

Here's my link:
http://lyndasgrainsofsand.blogspot.com/
MimmyJune 16, 2009
Your blog is brand new to me and I am very excited. Hopefully I will be sharing my thoughts with you and your readers from time to time.

Please take a look at Mimmy's Maniacal Moments. It is new and is centered around poetry. My thoughts on many subjects find their way in and sometimes become the major portion of my post for the day.

The poem most recently posted is not my usual forte. However,it is written about a woman of great faith and her family.

Thank you for giving us this forum to share our thoughts on God's word, our writings and apparently many other topics.

God Bless,
Mimmy aka Joyce Smith
CarmenJune 19, 2009
This is a new site for me, too. Seems I find another every now and then. Thanks for all your sharing. Lifts the soul! As for patience, I've stopped praying for it! I am getting better at times.