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. John 8:34-35

Having been married for only a week, Kathy was learning about life as a military spouse when she went Randolph Air Force Base’s hospital for a dental checkup. After the appointment, she took out her checkbook and began writing a check.

“Honey, this is the military,” remarked the attendant. “We don’t take your money, we just take your husband.”

Just as servicemen and their families may feel enslaved to the military, humanity feels the bondage to sin. Paul expounds, “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:20). Habitual sins such as sexual addiction are so gripping, that apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5). A choice is then given, to live as sons of God or slaves to sin (Galatians 4:7). Having a “son mindset” may subdue our sinful urges because as a son we can stake our claim to live in God’s house as permanent residents. Satan may try to steal our inheritance, though we have divine power from Jesus who has already secured our freedom. Put away your checkbooks because it has cost us nothing, and Him everything.

It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice. – Hosea Ballou