Passage Read: Romans 6-7
Meditation Verse: 6:19
Thought
Whatever we were before believing in Jesus Christ, we now have both the power and the responsibility to choose to walk in righteousness. We have no excuse to sin. Paul uses the human concept of slavery to describe our past condition and our current duty: We formerly were slaves to sin and readily did what sin required of us. Now we should see ourselves as slaves to righteousness and diligently give ourselves over to doing what is good and right in God's eyes. We too eagerly gave ourselves over to do what sin commanded; now we must deliberately give ourselves over to doing what is righteous. He writes in such a way that it sounds like sin is still more natural and easy for us to do, while righteousness still requires some work to recognize and do. That's in effect what he expands on in the next chapter. But the point of this chapter is clear: We must change our behavior and no longer allow sin to rule our lives. We're required to put in the work it takes to make that change.
Application
While Chapter 7 seems to end on a fatalistic note, "What will be, will be," yet this chapter leaves no question that I am expected to follow the law of my mind that delights in God's ways, rather than continue to let sin in my flesh drive my behavior and life. Chapter 7 doesn't undo Chapter 6, but explains the mechanisms behind sin's control and Jesus' setting me free. One way to understand my present duty as a Christian is to see myself as a slave to righteousness, and make sure to give all the members of my body, as well as my mind and thoughts, over to the Lord and His Word to do as He commands. He is my Master now; sin no longer has the right to rule over me. So whatever example Jesus established and whatever God's Word requires of His people, these I must do.