Read Romans 6:12-13 The human body…infinitely complex. We’ve all heard Paul describe the Church as the body of Christ and we as individuals as members of that body. But in Romans chapter 6, Paul focuses on us as individuals. He focuses on our individual bodies. He focuses on us as individuals who have been “brought from death into life,” and he focuses in specifically on the individual parts of our bodies. We know that through baptism we have died to sin. We know that by the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin no longer has power over us, and we are alive in Christ Jesus. But even so, here I sit, meditating on scripture, seeking God’s counsel and wisdom, but I am still painfully aware of one devastating fact – I AM A SINNER. Romans 6:12-13 urges us to take the bodies we have been given, and not to offer them to sin. These verses urge us to take the individual parts of our bodies, and not to offer them to wickedness. It is as if Paul is pleading with us, “In Jesus You have been brought from death to life! Please do not use that life for sin!!” So what are we to do with our lives, with our bodies? Romans 6:13 tells us very clearly. We are to offer our lives to God. We are to offer our body parts as instruments of his righteousness. We are to take the life we have in Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil, and let God use that life to put us in his service. As we draw nearer and nearer to the end of our Lenten journey for 2014, it is a great time for personal reflection. What does it mean to be dead in sin? In what ways have You offered Your body to sin? In what ways are You allowing the parts of Your body to be used for wickedness? As someone who is dead to sin and alive in Christ, Jesus has already given You the power to no longer let sin reign in Your body, and the power to no longer obey its evil desires. In the same way, this is a great time to reflect on what it means for You to be alive in Christ. What does Jesus’ victory on the cross mean for You personally? How can You offer Yourself more completely to God? How can You offer Your body to Him as an instrument of His righteousness? Our human bodies…our lives. Created by God. For God’s purposes. Paul describes our body parts as instruments; as tools. God’s tools, to use as He pleases. May we offer them to Him – our hands to do His work, our feet to bring good news, our lips to praise Him, and our hearts to beat for His Kingdom alone. Amen. -Sara Scheiwe
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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