“12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.”
Over the course of the last several devotionals, Paul has been showing us what it means to be a Christian. In Romans Chapters 1-4, Paul told us that we needed to be saved from our sin and showed us the way of salvation. Now, in Chapters 5 and on, Paul will tell us what we should do now that we have been saved. In today’s devotional, Paul continues by saying that we ought not to have any dealings whatsoever with sin. If we are truly saved by God’s grace, we can no longer associate with sin in any fashion. For those in Christ, act as if you have been raised from the dead and have been given a new and righteous life, because that’s exactly what has happened! You have been made alive in Christ Jesus, so act like it! How do we do this? How do we offer ourselves to God?
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” — Romans 12:1-2
We must present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Our lives must be fully devoted to Him. Our lives are not our own. Commit yourself fully to God. Commit your time, resources, abilities, money, and body to serve the One who has brought you from death to life. Those who are equipped with a proper desire to serve God are dangerous to sin. We are “weapons for righteousness”, Paul says. (v. 13a) If we are under grace, having the proper perspective that Christ has rescued us from death, sin will have no power to rule over us. We will study more deeply what it means to be a “Living sacrifice” when we reach Romans Chapter 12.