Romans 6:16
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
There is never a moment in time when we are not serving someone or something. Everything we do is in line with how we view life, how we react to life, what we think is happening in the world— everything. In fact, nothing we ever do is because of something that previously affected our thoughts. The idea of autonomy apart from outside forces is utterly a false notion.
Thus Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote in his letter to the Romans that we are all slaves to whatever thoughts we have in our hearts and minds. If our hearts are rooted in man and in line with who man is, we are enslaved to do all man would do. We cannot help ourselves, for we will reflect our nature. On the other hand, if the Spirit of God is working in our hearts and minds and we bear fruit in keeping with repentance and dependence on the Holy Spirit, then we are slaves to righteousness.
So, we are slaves to whom we obey. There is no moralism, legalism, or coercion that can set us free to live a life of righteousness under the glory of God. All our best-laid plans are filthy rags in light of the holiness of God. But for those who are truly in Christ, the price has been paid, and we now have freedom in Christ and are slaves to righteousness. We obey and act in accordance with whomever we serve.
So for the believer, we are to look to Christ and cry out to the Lord for mercy. And God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which He loves us, will give us a new heart and a new mind to be slaves to Christ. He has promised to send His Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct us, His people, to do His will, and this all to the glory of God and our good.
Matthew 3:8
Father, I have not thought about being a slave to anyone or anything. I have not thought of my mind as being under the servitude of anyone but myself. But I now see that apart from Your Holy Spirit giving me life through the redemption that was paid by Christ, I am bound to a life of slavery for destruction. Forgive me and have mercy on me. Help me to walk under the Lordship of Christ in every moment of every day. Humble me in whatever way You deem best to more truly know You and serve You with all my heart. I ask this in Christ’s name. Amen