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 member to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:13
Are you an instrument of unrighteousness?
To be frank, Satan can use any part of your bodies to be an instrument of unrighteousness while we are often oblivious to it all. He uses our eyes to look at things we shouldn’t, and then hours later, we’re surfing the web looking for pornography. We get sideways at church with someone, and we choose to break the relationship. We think more highly of ourselves than we should, and then pride creeps in. In the same way, we present our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to Satan, we do so with intentionality.
When we present our members to Satan as instruments for unrighteousness, Satan wins, and I’m tired of him winning, aren’t you? These actions should not be done with a clear conscience and with the understanding that you are at least trying to live out righteousness. The choices you make are significant and have consequences.
Death to life means choosing righteousness.
In many people, a transaction took place. When you presented yourself to the Lord and placed your faith in what He did on the cross for you, you crossed over from death to life. This critical change means that you no longer have a life controlled by the fear of death because you understand its implications for your eternity. However, we need to represent the King. It’s time to live like who we are, not who we used to be.
This part of verse 13 reemphasizes the idea that we present ourselves to God by the actions we take every day. Do you realize your thoughts, feelings, and actions are tied to your transaction from death to life?
The word that comes to my mind is gratefulness. We should be overwhelmed and grateful because of Jesus’ unwavering and unfailing love towards us. When is the last time you were overwhelmed thinking about God’s unique and neverending love for you? Do you remember the feeling? For me, I respond with inexpressible gratefulness. I can never be grateful enough for what He did for me. Therefore, we should intentionally present ourselves to God as grateful and willing servants because He is the One who paid the ultimate price for us when He died on the cross.
Are you an instrument of righteousness?
So what’s the outcome? What’s the ultimate goal? I can assure you God has a goal in mind for you, and here it is. He desires for us to intentionally and willingly present ourselves as instruments for righteousness. Do something good for someone today, not because you want to do something good, but out of a grateful heart towards God.
I believe this gets to the heart of our usefulness and influence towards others. When we live our lives, it is essential to realize that everyone looks at us with evaluating eyes. Even the three-year-old behind you in line at the pharmacy. Our presentation of our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and actions are from a deep love we have for Him and what He did to move us from death to life. Do what’s right. Do what’s righteous.