First, Master Yourself

 “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

   - From 1 Corinthians 6

The law was a very good thing. It still is a good thing. We all prefer to live by some code. It gives our lives structure. It takes out some of the unpredictability (research shows that humans generally do not like surprises).

But it is hard to feel free when you're under the law, and God wants us free.

Think about someone you know, that is always stressing about details; doting over this or that; always asking questions, checking up on others; parenting, where parenting is not appropriate. Does that person seem particularly happy to you?

Look at a person's language. Do they use the word "have to" a lot? Do they say "I have to be at work at 8:00"? This is a sort of tip-off that they are under the law, to some degree. Rather, they should say "My work starts at 8:00". You don't have to do anything. If you're a Christian, especially, please consider talking like it. Our language says a lot.

But if you're free, it means you can choose to be holy. You can choose to serve. And when it's a choice, it is something you can do eagerly.

The passage today gives emphasis to sexual purity. It is something that has been lost in our generation. Even Christians have caved on this one. Paul says that you can have mastery over your body. Sexual sins are a base giving-in, and a failure to keep oneself focused on truly important things. The sexual act is (usually) a highly selfish thing. Would we want to do it, if it didn't feel so good?

And if we can master that one, perhaps we are on our way to mastering other sinful attitudes and actions. Place the most fundamental human drive into its proper context, and believe it or not, you have taken a couple giant steps to true freedom.