By Tina Chan, InterHigh Mentor, Senior @ UC Berkeley

Sharing on Romans 6:11-14

I often feel so pathetic when it comes to my sin issues, especially recurring issues such as pride or laziness. It seems like I will never get rid of them, and it’s so tedious to constantly battle them so I might as well give up. But .. the verses are very clear. Either I’m offering my body to sin, literally as instruments of wickedness, or I’m offering myself to God. There is no in-between. In the moments that I waste my time, getting nothing done and not even getting good rest, not reaching out to someone right in front of me but instead moving away, when those judgmental or proud thoughts cloud my mind and I view people in critical or demeaning ways, it’s very clear. I may not outwardly or noticeably be “doing anything wrong”, but at those moments, it’s not just the lack of offering myself to God, but I’m actively offering my mind, my body, my heart to sloth, wrath, pride.. to sin.

However, there’s that gleam of hope: count myself “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”, says Paul. Dead to sin? When I feel like sin has its very claws on me all the time? “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” It’s true.. yes, I remember. I remember God saving me from even deeper pits than these, I remember God impossibly redeeming my life because of his grace. How can I stand idly by, excusing my sins one at a time? If my thoughts or actions tangibly result in sin, I need to get rid of them and repent now, so that they will not reign in my life and cause me to “obey its evil desires”. If I would confess my sins, he is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I know that God has drawn me away from sin to Him before, and he is faithful to bring life to me again and again. The words are both reassuring and a warning: “Sin shall not be your master.” I don’t need to lose hope in this churning battle against sin, because God is now my greater master.