“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” – Romans 6:13 (NKJV)
When a skilled musician expertly plays a finely tuned instrument, it produces the most beautiful and captivating melodies known to the human ear. Now, imagine that same instrument in the hands of an untrained individual—the sounds would be chaotic and anything but melodious.
Similarly, the members of your body can either create a harmonious life aligned with God’s purpose or be misused as instruments of unrighteousness.
To yield your members to God means consciously and consistently offering every part of your being to Him for righteousness. A crucial aspect of achieving this is fixing our eyes on Jesus, our advocate, as explained in our anchor scripture.
The struggle between the old and new nature is real and persistent. It’s easy to fall back into old habits without vigilance and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Just as an instrumentalist must practice tirelessly to master their instrument, our spiritual lives require continuous effort and dedication through God’s word and prayer. By looking to Jesus, our advocate and the living Word, we find the motivation and power to keep our spiritual ‘instrument’ finely tuned and free from the ‘discord’ of sinful habits and thoughts.
Practical steps are crucial in yielding our members to God. For instance, actively practising forgiveness and letting go of grudges can help if one struggles with anger. Ephesians 4:26-27 warns us not to let the sun go down on our wrath, nor give place to the devil. By choosing forgiveness and following the example of Jesus, who forgave even those who crucified Him, we shut the door to bitterness and resentment, which are tools the enemy uses to gain a foothold.
Moreover, we must guard our hearts and minds by being mindful of what we consume through our senses. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think only about whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. This means avoiding media and environments that tempt us to sin and instead engaging in activities that uplift and edify.
We can better discern and choose what aligns with God’s will by continually looking to Jesus and His example of purity and holiness.
In conclusion, yielding your members to God is about deliberately choosing to live for Him every day. It involves a commitment to spiritual disciplines, an awareness of our new identity in Christ, and practical steps to avoid sin. By doing so, and by fixing our eyes on Jesus, we allow God to transform us into instruments of His righteousness, creating a life that glorifies Him and fulfils His divine purpose.
Bible Reading Plan: John 17