am I a slave?

I imported this from our Young Adult blog…please read and comment…maybe I’m totally off…

what am I a slave to? what is there in my life that controls me? – these are questions that I believe we all need to ask ourselves.there’s a difference between being a slave and being a servant.we are called to be servants. we are called to choose to be servants. not forced or controlled to, but choosing to humble ourselves as servants.this is not a new concept…but in actual practicality, what does this truly mean. In Philippians 2:1-11 it says: Quote : If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition ro vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore god exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The greatest single example of selfless, servant living is Jesus. How can we live any other way? How can we accept such service from Him and not offer that to others? How can we not even serve the ones we say we love? So many approach the Church as a place to be served, not as a place to serve. So many will show up late to a time of worship, waiting as a consumer for the product. Is this what we’re called to: thinking, what will the church do for me? NO – we are called to serve, period. Do we realize truly what Jesus did, as he humbled himself and became obedient to death? If we did, I think we would be living different, service-filled lives. Not because we feel guilty, but because we can do no less. Imagine what the Church today would look like in the world if those who call themselves ‘Christians’ actually took this to heart? Imagine the impact we would have on poverty, justice, mercy and on and on. Imagine if we actually lived the way we’re called to – as Jesus’ hands and feet, bringing hope and love and mercy to a hurting world. are we slaves or are we servants BY CHOICE?