It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
Yoke of Slavery
The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were 17,000 people living in conditions of modern slavery in Canada, a prevalence of 0.5 victims for every thousand people in the country. The Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre reported that as of November 2017, they had identified 455 cases of human trafficking since 2005. Of these 455 cases, 433 cases were domestic trafficking cases where Canadian or foreign citizens were exploited within Canada, primarily for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
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If you have ever visited a museum dedicated to the Underground Railway, or to the North American slave trade, you will have seen some of the horrific devices that were used to punish and prevent slaves from escaping. How anyone could shackle another human being using these devices is beyond me. The Bible uses this imagery to describe how each of us are enslaved by our sin. In Galatians 5:1 the apostle Paul writes this: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Before we confessed Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of our lives, sin held a grip on us. We were bound by the guilt and shame of our sin, living with regrets for things we had said or done. Jesus set us free from this, lifting our guilt and shame and transforming our lives. The challenge is that temptation continues to be set before us. Paul reminds his readers, and us, to not allow sin to again overcome us, and so drag us back to bondage. Invite the Holy Spirit to give you victory over temptation today.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley