WEEK 25 – DAY 5

DEAD TO SIN

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:11-14

Was it a pirate who coined the line, “Dead men tell no tales.”? I don’t remember. However, I do know that Paul’s point was that dead men sin no sins. I am dead to sin when my old self is crucified, and Christ lives through me (Galatians 2:20). On a moment by moment basis I need to refuse to use my body in a way that is disobedient to God and, instead, surrender every part of my body, of my very being to his control. As the scripture says, I need to “offer the parts of my body to him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13 NIV). It would be a good practice to do this before my feet hit the floor in the morning, to just say, “God use every part of me for your glory today.” I think that is the message of one of my favorite old hymns.

Lord, may this song be our honest prayer!

“Take My Life, and Let It Be” – Words, Frances R. Havergal, 1874

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee;

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee;

Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King.

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold;

Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my will and make it thine: it shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is thine own. It shall be thy royal throne.