ARE YOU A SLAVE TO IMPURITY OR RIGHTEOUSNESS?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves.
Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity
and to every-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to
righteousness leading to holiness.
(Romans 6:19)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever heard someone explaining something that was hard
to understand and finally you said, “Just tell me in layman’s terms!”
By that, you meant, “Give me a simpler explanation”.

Some people will make things seem more complicated than they are
so others will get the impression they are very smart. Paul wasn’t that
kind of person. After his life had been changed, he fully committed to
the Lord and became a humble person. That doesn’t mean he became
weak; he just had a gentle strength that was under control.

Since Paul was not arrogant; he wanted everyone to easily understand
God’s message, which is…
    – God made us and gave each of us certain abilities and talents.
    – Before we were saved, we used what God gave us to fulfill our
       own sinful pleasures. This caused us to become slaves to impurity
       and we even found new ways to commit sins.
    – Whenever we belong to God, we need to redirect our energies
       and efforts to pursue righteousness instead of unrighteousness.
    – The more righteous we become, the closer we get to becoming holy,
       which is God’s desire for us (and the reason He starts His process
       of sanctification when He gives us His blessing of salvation).

Instead of filling our minds with resentment, abusing our bodies with
sinfulness, and damaging our soul by choosing sin over righteousness,
we should humbly give our ‘all’ over to God. When we do, our life will
begin to count for something. We will have the feeling of belonging to
the family of God as we pursue a new purpose for living.

When we fully commit to the Lord, boredom will melt away, and we
will become vibrant with hope and expectation. When we lose our
arrogance and meekly yield to the Lord’s Will, we will begin to
“inherit the earth” of good things (which God has prepared for
those who trust Him with their all).

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Do I feel like I may be missing out on the best parts of life?
    – Do I still belong to the world, or have I been transformed
       and now belong to the Lord?
    – When given a choice of pursuing righteousness or choosing
       sinfulness, which decision do I make?
    – Do I have some sin that I can’t seem to overcome?
       If so, have I earnestly prayed and given it to the Lord,
       or am I still trying to defeat it on my own?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me if I am still a slave to impurity.
Strengthen me so I will become a slave to righteousness that
leads to holiness. If I am arrogant, teach me humility. If I am
selfish, show me how to redirect my desires for pleasing self,
to a new desire for pleasing You. I pray that I will yield to You
this day all my innermost thoughts that I can’t hide from You.
I want to enjoy the blessings You have for me – I know they
will bring me much more pleasure than sin could ever provide.”

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