DON’T LET SIN REIGN
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” Romans 6:12, ESV
Theme: Because of the power of the cross and Jesus’ victory over sin and death, sin does not have the power to enslave us, unless we allow it to rule in our mortal bodies.
APPETITE
One thing our family enjoys is delicious, homemade food. I grew up with an Italian mom who could whip up meatballs, red sauce, and caprese like nothing. My grandma was a legend – she learned dishes from an ethnically diverse group of friends. She didn’t limit her cooking to Italian. I’ll never forget the feast of the seven fishes. Today, our family loves to try new recipes and cook together. Lately, we have been picking three fancy recipes a week so that we can try new styles and branch out from our usual staples. The only food we don’t like is food that is late – hangry is a real thing around here. Yet, our bodies were not made to be overfed. And while cooking and enjoying food is not a sin, allowing our appetites to control us can be. When I use my frustration (because the right food isn’t available or our meal is delayed) as an excuse for poor behavior, that is a sin. Just because this body has an appetite doesn’t mean that appetite gets to enslave me. We can choose to allow our bodies and their appetites to control us, or not. And food isn’t the only thing our bodies have an appetite for...
APPETITES UNDER CONTROL
Jesus had appetites and yet He never sinned. His example and presence in a mortal body like mine is so encouraging. Our mortal bodies have passions. To love, to nurture, to excel, to rise up, to create, to fight oppression, to spread good news, to heal, to care for animals, to build or invent – all worthy of some effort, a place in our lives. Sometimes our appetites become so strong they begin to take over. They become addictions – to work harder, earn more, become thinner, more famous, stronger, faster, to use substances, or view more media, to have more experiences. Sin hides behind our appetites. Something you once enjoyed in moderation takes control, “reigns in your body, and makes you obey its passions” (Romans 6:12). Because of the power of the cross and Jesus’ victory over sin and death, sin does not have the power to enslave us, unless we allow it to rule in our mortal bodies. By the grace of God, let us not permit sin to rule in our bodies!
Make It Personal: Consider your appetites. Which ones occasionally or frequently cause you to sin? Are you more cautious of those? Do you have intermittent fasts of that type? What limits or guardrails might help you avoid allowing sin to rule in your mortal body? This is a season where people in a liturgical tradition often give something up for Lent. Maybe this exercise can point you towards a healthy limit you could self-impose from now until Easter Sunday.
Pray: Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for food, exercise, outdoors, family, and many other good things. Please help me to enjoy things in moderation. Help me to worship nothing but You. Help me to control my body and take good care of it. When I fall, help me to recover quickly and rely on You fully. You are so good to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Romans 6:12-14; Titus 2:11-13; Luke 12:23
Weekly Memory Verse: “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:6, ESV