A Slave's Choice

Exodus 21:1-6 discusses the time after a slave has served for 6 years. At this time, the master gives the slave the choice to go as a free man or to remain in the master's house. Verse 5 states: But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man.' As I studied the life of a bondservant and researched the origin of this term, this passage of scripture lead me to the answer.

You see, the slave was given a choice just as we are given a choice in who we serve. He could go out as a free man and lead his own life, a life without a master, or choose to be under the headship of his master. We are given that same choice in our lives. We can choose to be our own master or recognize the love our Master has for us and choose a life bound to Christ. The verse specifically says that out of love the slave chose to stay. I wonder if the world truly understood the love of God, how many would choose to be under His Headship instead of leading their own way. We choose our Master because of the Love we witness from Him in our lives and the lives of others. His Love was expressed by the death of His Son on a cross, the peace that we experience in the midst of storms, His provision when we seem like ends will not meet, His guidance when we feel as though we are walking blindly and the list goes on...

Who will you choose? Will you choose to surrender your freedom and serve God, our Master or will you choose life apart from Him? Oh, friend, I pray you choose Him. Life with our Master is so much better than attempting to direct our own steps.