[Tuesday's Devotional] - The Issue of Slavery

Slavery Although slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833, the fact is that there are more slaves now in 2017 than there were trafficked throughout the 300 years before then.  The most common forms of modern slavery are sexual and labour exploitation.  The UK is one of the most prominent destinations for "human trafficking", and estimates are that more than 20,000 people are trafficked into and throughout the UK annually. Globally, the total number of people trapped in some form of slavery is estimated at almost 21 million. It is confusing that the bible talks about slavery in a pragmatic way, giving advice to slaves and masters.  It is also clear that slavery is not compatible with the messages of love, compassion and how we should treat others.  Although there are plans to eradicate slavery, like poverty which we discussed yesterday, the drivers of greed and conflict have contributed to the prevalence of slavery.  It is clear that the bible gives us a radical message of equality – which must have been shocking in the context of the time of Christ's ministry on earth: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3: 26-29 [NIV] As well as slavery in the traditional sense, we who are "free" are also "slaves to sin" as Jesus said: "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8: 34-36 [NIV] Are you suffering as a slave to sin today?  Ask the Son to set you free – as a result of his crucifixion we are no longer slaves to sin.  Does that mean we won't sin anymore?  No, surely not, but sin will not hold us in slavery – we are under grace not under law.    Why not claim your freedom today. Dave MacLellan   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!