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"And do not offer any parts of it [the mortal body] to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness."
(Romans 6:13, CSB)
Lightsaber, Mjolnir, Stormbreaker, the sword of Gryffindor, the One Ring, Captain America's shield, and the Elder Wand are all famous weapons that are used in movies! Whether the weapon be wielded by a superhero, a jedi, or a wizard, these weapons have some amazing functions and are very entertaining to watch on the big screen. If you have not read the verse for today's devotional, I encourage you to do so.
Our verse today talks about weapons as well, but two different types of weapons: weapons for unrighteousness and weapons for righteousness. What this verse is telling the follower of Jesus is that even as a saved Christian, the physical body you have here on this earth can be used for righteousness or unrighteousness. Believers are the ones that decide what kind of weapon their body will be. Let's break this verse down a little more.
The first part of the verse deals with the negative angle: the Christian body as a weapon for unrighteousness. How do we know when our body is a weapon for unrighteousness as a follower of Jesus? The NLT puts this verse like this: "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin." I think this version helps show when your body is a weapon for unrighteousness: if it is serving sin. Does your body serve sin? Are you engaging in sinful behavior with parts of your body? Are your eyes causing you to sin? Are your feet causing you to sin? Are your hands causing you to sin? Is your mind causing you to sin? What part of your body is being offered to sin so that it becomes a weapon for unrighteousness? As the Holy Spirit convicts you of different parts, if any, confess that before God, then take that weapon for unrighteousness and turn it into a weapon for righteousness! How do you do that?
The second part of the verse tells us this: offer yourself to God, and then every part of yourself will be a weapon for righteousness. Look at how Paul orders this passage: we are first "alive from the dead" and then we do. To be a weapon for righteousness, we must first know Whose we are, and then we can offer ourselves to Him! So, follower of Jesus, KNOW your identity, and when your identity is right, offer yourself to God, every part of yourself! When you do this, you will then be a weapon FOR righteousness!
So today, what kind of weapon will you be? A weapon for unrighteousness or righteousness?
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