"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16 (KJV)

Bob Dylan sang "You Gotta Serve Somebody".

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody,

It may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody. (Bob Dylan)

Bob hit the nail on the head – either the Devil or the Lord. Most of the time we like to think we make all our own choices because they are our choices. But the reality is that making one choice influences everything else.

Suppose you want a new car and go to the dealership. In front of you sit a red Prius and a Green Ford Excursion. Choosing the Prius will get you many miles to the gallon and the Ford an empty wallet. Whichever you choose you will have to drive for a long, long time if you have to finance the purchase. There will be no way to change your mind a month later. You are stuck with everything that goes along with that choice.

In the same way the verse above is telling you that the choice of masters you make is the one that will influence everything else in your life. That choice has consequences.

Bob Dylan says you have got to serve somebody and Romans 6:16 is telling you that you will serve either the Lord or the Devil. There are no other choices. It really boils down to that. Everybody wants to be free to be themselves but that is not the way the world or eternity is structured. You are not the master of your own ship except in that one choice. Either you will serve God or serve the Devil.

As you read this you might be a bit angry. Human nature being what it is, no person likes to have all their choices taken away. Freedom is often attached to the freedom to make choices. Just remember that you do have a choice but that choice influences all your other choices. Jesus said that He came to set us free and we are free to serve God and serving Him enables you be more free than you have ever known.

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

If the Lord is your Lord then all your choices the rest of your life should reflect that choice.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16 (KJV)

I am so glad He is faithful to forgive my sins. Are you?