Free Yet Servant

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
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Free Yet Servant
Martin Luther once famously said, "A Christian is an utterly free man, lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is an utterly dutiful man, servant of all, subject to all." The Law has done its work to condemn and destroy and the Gospel of Jesus' cross has brought us back to life. Now we find ourselves in the midst of neighbors, fellow believers, unbelievers, those hostile to the Word of God. Now the Law informs our work and our relationships. It is a guide and a map to Christian life. We are no longer condemned by the Law, but we see the Law as good and wise. "The Law of God is good and wise and sets his will before our eyes, shows us the way of righteousness, and dooms to death when we transgress" (Lutheran Service Book 579). Now Jesus' blood has washed away our sin and wrapped us in the righteousness of heaven. Now we delight in loving the Lord our God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourself. This is Jesus doing. He has done all things well.