Today’s Devotional: “Yielded and Submitted”

It’s not that we are merely to avoid sin, but rather that the Apostle Paul commands us to resist it; that is, no longer allow ourselves to be at its disposal.

Therefore, let’s be careful not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies so that we should obey it and its lusts. And we’re not to present the members of our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but rather we are to present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:12-13).

The language is a command, saying we are no longer to allow sin to reign or have authority and rule over our bodies. To yield our bodies to sin means putting ourselves at sin’s disposal, turning our bodies over to its passionate pull.

Now, our bodies don’t sin; rather, sin uses them as instruments, including our eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, and even our minds. So Paul is saying not to let sin have dominion over our lives or submit ourselves to its control.

Instead, we are to yield and submit ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness.

We see this submission spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.” (Isaiah 52:7a)

Therefore, we have a choice. We can either yield to sin and Satan’s unrighteousness, or we can yield to the Lord’s righteousness.

In his advice to young Timothy, Paul said, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

The Apostle James said, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

When we yield and submit ourselves to God, we’ve got a leg up on Satan and sin.