Romans 6:8-14
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Devotion
Paul makes the point that once we die with Christ, sin/death no longer have control over us. If this is true, then why do we still struggle with sin? As part of the sanctification process, we are learning to surrender our will/ways to a new Master. According to Paul, the key is to, “offer yourselves to God.” What does this look like? In Romans 12, Paul writes, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” The only way the old nature has power in our lives is if we give it that power. Every moment of every day we have a choice. We can surrender to our old sinful nature or we can surrender our lives to the Spirit of God. When we surrender our lives to God, sin no longer can be our master.
Questions to Ponder:
What does Paul mean in Romans 12 when he says that we are to present ourselves as “living sacrifices?” Do you still struggle with your sinful nature? What adjustments would you have to make to surrender your will/ways to God?
Prayer Points
- Revere the Eternal God, Everlasting Father, King of kings, Lord of lords, Great I Am.
- Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
- Tell Him you are sorry for any broken fellowship with Him and others. Tell Him you forgive those who have offended/harmed you.
- Ask Him to help you by the Holy Spirit to live in the light, to surrender every member of your body up to Him as an instrument of righteousness.
Suggested Prayer
Righteous One, King of the universe, Almighty God, King of Glory, I praise and adore You. You are worthy of all my praise and worship. I surrender to You, oh God, every area of my life. Every part of my body I bring to You as an instrument of righteousness. I put to death those things that do not bring You glory. I put to death my wrong thinking, any judgments, hurtful ways, etc. Help me by Your living power inside of me to think on things that are praiseworthy and good. Empower me to speak words of encouragement, words that build up, strengthen, and help. Enable me to speak truth in love and with grace. Help me to receive truth when someone comes to me. Help me to discern what is from You and what is not. Make me a trophy of grace, oh God. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.