Romans 6:14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Is it possible to achieve a level of righteousness where sin no longer has a hold on you? Where temptation is a thing of the past? My gut response to this question would be to say “No way!” I still struggle with my old self, with my selfish desires. And yet. . . Paul suggests in Romans 6 that we ought to be able to walk under grace. That we should remember what happened at our our baptism and remind our old self that those desires have been ‘crucified’ and we have taken on a new life, a life in the spirit. Something that is dead should have no voice, no power over us. This is a challenge to us all. We should be so in step with God that when sin rears its ugly head that we won’t even give it a passing glance. We’ll just move right on with the next thing God wants us to do.
While I am not there yet, I will continue to strive for this righteousness that is offered to me as a child of God. As I continue with this daily (or hourly) struggle, I like to meditate on portions of the 51st Psalm. It is humbling to think that King David wrote this right after Nathan confronted him about his bad choices regarding Bathsheba. If David can be called “a man after God’s own heart” despite this failing and others, there is a chance for me as well. I hope this passage will be a rallying cry for your walk of faith this week as well. Psalm 51:10-12.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
