Romans 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
The choice about sin is left to us. Who or what will we let be our master? It is a matter of “reign”. This reigning takes place in our “mortal bodies.” This is where we live out our decisions. There are basically only two choices: letting sin be in control or submitting ourselves to Jesus as Lord. Paul shows this choice by using the imperative mood of command. Our decision is to agree with what God has done and wants to do in our life. It involves a release of the effort to fight sin and a resting in God’s grace through the obedience of faith. Become what you are; grow into what you have begun; complete the race that you are running. This is the same idea that the author of Hebrews writes about in Hebrews 12:1-2: fix our eyes on Jesus and throw off sin. Why is this decision difficult to make? Part of this is because sin has a hold on our thinking. We have created thought patterns, behaviors, and habits that are difficult to change. It is a mindset that changes slowly with the help of the Holy Spirit. As we obey and trust more, we will take steps forward, day by day, little by little. We become used as God’s righteous instruments. The key idea is to “offer” or present. Here I am, Lord. I am yours, fill me, guide me, use me.
For older posts, click here.