Romans 6:17–19 (ESV) —
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
NOTE: I like the caveat "I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations." That's the rub. We know what is right to do. We know we were slaves to sin. We know we must be obedient to the standard of teaching that we have now received from the Holy Spirit, but there is a human limitation, our flesh. Until we rid ourselves of this mortal body and receive our new body not corrupted by sin, we will struggle. And it is okay to struggle, but it is not okay to quit or give up or surrender to the flesh. Every time we fall down, we confess, we get back up, and we pursue righteousness in our members (our body). We are in a process of sanctification that does not end.
PONDER:
- Have I given up in any area of sin in my life?
- Do I still pursue righteousness like I did when Jesus first transformed my life?
- Have I allowed the Christian life to become passé?
PRAYER: Father, thank you for your truth that comforts me in my failures. I must never give up. It is a battle to live for you in the flesh and in this world. Let me do it in a way that brings others to you and does not cause others to turn away.
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