When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. (Rom 6:20 NIV)

Nobody what’s to be a servant or slave. Everybody prefers freedom. Yet there is nobody really free and not in servitude. Or who could honestly say: “I am truly independent. I am on control. I determine my destiny autocratically and without exterior influence”? Who could say that he lives in total harmony with his inner convictions and not under some compulsion and influence exerted by sometimes even quite secret and obscure sources? I’m not going to talk much about outside force, social coercion, circumstantial pressure or traditional considerations. However, who is free of prejudice? Probably nobody. Who is so much in control of his own thoughts and desires as to always prefer the best, truthful and God pleasing – and then also do and achieve it? Whoever can talk just what is right, wise and beneficial to all, who hear him? Error, deception and downright evil is part of our make-up. That’s who and what we are. Even before we can distinguish between good and evil, sin is part of our will and energies. It’s a powerful force to recon with and it causes us to do, not so much, what we would like or prefer, but rather the very opposite and what we really oppose. That’s what is meant by this factual statement: We are slaves of sin. We don’t liberate ourselves from this bondage by shaking those shackles a bit. O those poor fools, who dream of liberty, while still slaves of sin. These dreams are just more proof of our captivity and fruits of that indwelling sin.

Lord, our God! Free and deliver us more and more of the sinful bondage, that we guilty have to endure and help us out to the true and blessed freedom of your children. Comfort us with your holy gospel, that you are a merciful God because of your beloved Son Jesus Christ and that you let yourself be found by those, who seek you. Grant o Lord and God your grace and mercy – especially to those caught up in bondage and who don’t know a way out. Free them and us so that liberated by your holy calling, we would persevere in pursuing holiness and purity and perfection. Strengthen, embolden and enlighten us in this struggle. Grant the true faith, that would move mountains and that will never give up. Hear us for Christ’s sake – he our God and Lord, your Son and our Saviour. Amen.   

Discover all and grant good riddance to all that does not live up to your holiness even if we would miss it sorely. We are assured you know best, what’s good for us and you will lead us to fulfilment of our calling to perfection and holiness because we can’t do it. It’s your work in us. Thank you for that. You o God are my good, my life and all  salvation. (Gerhard Tersteegen, 1697-1769)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the seventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 266 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.