26 October 2023

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

From Romans 6:19-23, NRSV

The people to whom this letter was written would have included many people who were slaves. These were people who had no rights or status and who knew the degradation that went with this. Becoming Christians did not necessarily remove them from slavery, but did give their lives a new dignity and purpose. Within their Christian communities, slaves were on equal footing with those who were free, and shared with them the same newness of life in Baptism and the promise of eternal life.

• • What difference do you suppose Baptism made in the lives of slaves?
  • What are the things that enslave people today and prevent them living as fully as God intends?

Pray for those whose lives are limited through illness, war, poverty, addiction or anything that prevents them living fulfilled and purposeful lives.