What does "slavery by their fear of death" mean in our daily lives? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 Hebrews 2:15: “and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” • From birth, the shadow of death looms, whispering that everything we value can be ripped away. • That dread becomes a taskmaster, shaping priorities, choices, and even our personalities. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 • Anxiety and sleeplessness over health, finances, security. • Performance-driven living—chasing success to leave a legacy before time runs out. • Chronic avoidance of risk; saying no to God-given opportunities because “something bad might happen.” • Hedonism and escapism—numbing the thought of mortality through pleasure or distraction. • Relational control—clinging tightly to people and possessions, fearing loss more than loving well. 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 • Romans 8:15: “you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.” • Luke 12:4-7: the One who values every sparrow commands “Do not be afraid.” • 1 Corinthians 15:54-57: death swallowed up in victory; Christ removes its sting. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 • He shared our flesh (Hebrews 2:14) so He could die a real death in our place. • By rising, He “destroyed the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.” • Eternal life shifts the horizon: physical death becomes a doorway, not a dead end (John 11:25-26). • Adoption means we face the Judge as Father, not executioner (1 John 3:1-2). 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 • Peace that guards heart and mind when headlines scream danger (Philippians 4:7). • Boldness to obey costly callings—missions, generosity, truth-telling—without paralysis. • Joy that outlasts loss; tears are real, but despair never takes the throne (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). • Love that risks rejection because acceptance in Christ is secure (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). • Purposeful stewardship of time and gifts, not frantic grabbing for “bucket-list” fulfillment. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 • Meditate on resurrection passages; speak them aloud when fear whispers. • Replace “What if I die?” with “Because I will live with Christ forever, I can …” • Cultivate thankful remembrance of past deliverances (2 Corinthians 1:10). • Serve others deliberately—turning eyes outward loosens fear’s inward grip. • Keep funerals and cemeteries in view; sobriety about death underscores the victory already ours. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 |
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