1 Corinthians 7:23–24: “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”

May 18th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul points again and again to the blood of Jesus Christ as the price that was paid for us. Some people fear being owned by God, as though they will be restricted. However, the greatest danger is not losing freedom to God but becoming a physical slave to another person, to the ways of men, the ways of the world, or our own flesh. That is the kind of slavery that will bind a person for eternity.

The modern equivalent of “let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called” is “bloom where you are planted.” Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been playing the same card with the human race, discontentment. We are never fully satisfied with anything on earth. We always want something different.

There is a simple old fable that describes this beautifully:

An ancient king walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. After speaking to an oak near the gate, the king learned that the oak was troubled because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine overheard their conversation and added that he, too, was upset, for he could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree. The pear tree heard his name and began to complain that he did not have the odor of the spruce. And so it went throughout the entire garden. Near the very edge of the garden grew a small daisy. As the king approached, he noticed her bright little face, full of life. “Well, little flower,” said the monarch, “I’m glad to find that there is at least one happy face in my garden.” “Oh king,” the flower said, “I know I’m small, and few even notice me, but I realized that if you planted me here, you must have had a good reason. So, your majesty, I’ve determined to be the best flower I can be!”

Our King has planted a garden. Not one of us is greater than the next. He wants us to come to a place where we trust that He has created us the way He has, and He has us in the place He desires. When we do that, we can be free of the consuming disappointments and unhappiness that comes with discontentment. To be content in Christ is a marvelous blessing.

“LORD, we pray for those we will encounter today, that You might prepare them, and us, to do and say things that will have positive eternal consequences.”