This morning I had a minor surgery to remove squamous cell carcinoma from my ear. If caught early, this type of cancer can be removed without progressing into more dangerous conditions. So the doctor scraped off the bad stuff and stitched me back up to prevent complications and promote the growth of good cells.
The apostle Paul wrote about something even more dangerous within us. He said that sin dwells within each of us and seeks to rule over us, thus destroying our lives. We must deal with sin in the same way that the doctor dealt with my cancer cells. We must give sin no opportunity to rule over us by instead giving ourselves to God. Paul put it this way in Romans 6:12-12, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 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 members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
We must not let sin continue to have its way with us so that we follow its passions. Instead we must surrender ourselves to God, so that we can walk in righteousness. Sin’s passions will destroy us like cancer destroys the body. Righteousness leads us in the lives we desire and provides healthy spiritual growth.
Reluctant Retiree 