DEVOTION – DAY 542

Romans 6:5-6 “No Longer Slaves To Sin”

Romans 6:5-6 “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

These verses reveal a deep truth. When someone invites Jesus Christ into their lives as their personal Lord and Savior, it signifies that they accept that he or she is a sinner, in need of the Savior. It means a willingness to surrender the “old self”, a body that is prone to sin and allow it to be “crucified” with Christ on the cross. The new believer is then united with Christ, who sends the Holy Spirit to indwell in the new believer. He or she is now spiritually “resurrected” to a new life. This is a life that will begin to reflect a willingness to follow and obey God’s commands, a willingness to flee from old sinful habits that would destroy or corrupt us. This new life in Christ is a life that tells us we are no longer slaves to sin. What a blessing!

We know a woman who had come to Malaysia to work. She shared a flat with some people from her own country who were also employed at the same workplace as she was. She was lonely and it was her first time far from home. She also started coming to our church. In a moment of weakness and loneliness, her flat-mate took advantage of her vulnerability. She had intimate relations with her. She knew it was not right and she became troubled. We saw that she was troubled and we offered a listening ear. She told us what happened. We shared the above verse with her and reminded her that her “old self” had died and that she had the power within her to walk a new life, to flee from temptations. We reminded her that she was no longer a slave to sin. We told her that she is a child of God with the Holy Spirit living in her and that she should resist all advances made by her flat-mate. We advised that she sought another place to rent. We prayed with her and she sought forgiveness from the Lord. We could see a weight lifted off her shoulders. She did take our advice. She obtained another job in Singapore and after a few months, she relocated to the United States. There, she met a man whom she fell in love with and they are now happily married. In many ways, she was able to have a fresh start and to close an unhappy chapter of her life, to bury for good that aspect of her old sinful nature. She is now able to face the days ahead without guilt and shame. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your gift of salvation offered freely to all who would believe in the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We pray that many unbelievers will in your perfect timing turn to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We humbly pray in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Have you invited Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, why not? What is holding you back or preventing you from accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Share.
  2. If you are a Christian, who amongst your family members and friends are not yet believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? Will you pray for their salvation? Will you be bold to tell them about Jesus and why they need Him as their Lord and Savior?
  3. How have you turned your back on your old sinful nature and self as you now walk as a Christian? Share.