Who's the Boss of You?

Daily Reading: Romans 6

 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6.12-14)

Devotional Thought: I once had an employee who wore a shirt that read, '"You're not the boss of me."  I reminded him that I was!   Having that settled, we got along just fine.

Who's the boss of you?  Is sin your master?  Regarding our relationship to sin, Paul wrote:

·       Let not (v. 12):  In order to live free from sin, the first thing we need to do is to choose not to sin!  Paul plainly puts it within the reach of the Christian to make that choice.  Sin cannot make us obey its passions.

·       Set not (v. 13):  I once read an account of a recovering alcoholic who was staying in a downtown mission.  One day, as he was sweeping the front step of the mission, he was drawn by the smell of alcohol.  He kept finding reasons to sweep farther and farther away from the mission until he found himself in front of a bar.  When someone came out, the scent of booze was too strong for him.  He threw his broom down and headed inside.  The mission director, who had quietly followed him, wrestled him to the ground and drug him back to the mission, locking him up in his room!  On what is your heart set?  Set it on God, not sin!

·       Fret not (v. 14): Before we knew Christ, we were slaves to sin, but Jesus has set us free from sin’s mastery.  Remember this, and even if you fall get right back up!  You’re not under law but under grace!

Prayer: Jesus, you're the Boss of me.  Remind me that sin is not my master and grant me strength to choose you whenever I am tempted.  And if I should fall into sin, help me to lean into your forgiveness and grace.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 20.1-5

1  May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2  May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!

3  May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4  May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

5  May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!