What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” – Romans 6:1
It’s our last devotional in the Breaking Chains series!! I pray it’s been a blessing to you! As I thought about writing this devotional, I thought about last week’s topic which dealt with uncovering the purpose behind our freedom. In that vein, we have to talk about long term freedom. We have to talk about sustainability.
The book of Romans is largely about how sin equals death and how we receive new life as baptized believers which justifies us in the eyes of God. It corrects our standings with God. He no longer sees us as our past sins or struggles, but rather God sees us in our new image: His Son. This is THE good news the apostles wanted the WORLD to know about all throughout the book of Acts. Paul, familiar with imprisonment, realized the importance of freedom, both physically and spiritually.
But if we, too, have walked in the path of freedom and understand its significance, why are we often tempted to live a life of sin and bondage? In short, sin is tempting and we fall to the temptation all the time. Some of us can fall and get back up while others fall and stay down for a long time. That’s usually when the devil comes along to shackle us to the floors and imprison us to sin, again. The fight we fight is against staying DOWN.
“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.” -Romans 6:8-9
Death has no mastery over Jesus because He conquered it when He rose from the dead. Similarly, God wants us to conquer sin. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s almost impossible, but there is repentance for our downfalls. But we cannot fall down and stay down getting kicked by the devil.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” – Romans 6:1
If we’re going to be enslaved, why not be enslaved to Jesus. Why not be shackled to righteousness and bound to the Perfect One.
“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” – Romans 6:17-19
May our presentation of righteousness be one that pleases God forever! May we be women who are convinced that bondage to Christ is more liberating than bondage to the devil. Long term freedom is at hand. It is available for us all. Don’t continue to live a life of sin, don’t lay down where the devil tripped you up. Stand up! Repent! Shake it off and grab the Lord’s unchanging hand. If you’re going to get cuffed, it’s best to be cuffed by the Lord.
