Benefits

Romans 6:21 asks the questions, "what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?"

First, are there things that you look back on in your life and feel shame as a result? No matter what your background is, or how BIG or little your sins were, if Jesus has saved you, then I am sure that there are things in your past that are shameful - whether other people know about them or not. For me - its an awful lot!

I can remember feeling really excited once I realized how shameful my past was to me because it showed me how much I had already changed. I am hoping to look at my life one year from now and see things that I am ashamed of - the idea is that Jesus is constantly weeding out the sin in our lives - bringing it to the surface and removing it altogether. Sanctification - the process of being made holy.

All of chapter 6 in Romans is Paul making both sides of the carnal argument whether it is better to sin or not. 'are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?' Of course the answer is no - but Paul continues with this argument and after laying it out, he ends it with the verse above - "Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death."

The 'therefore' referring to the argument he has made all chapter - and the answer to his own question - no wonder these things bring shame - in the end they only lead you to death.

In a recent Bible study, we were challenged to think of the benefits we used to reap from what we would do that now we regard with such shame - Mine is still a struggle - but the Lord has brought me very far. I think the heart of it was I had the desire to be admired by people - Fitting in, is a part of that, but really its a desire to stand out and be spoken well of. I received a lot of attention for certain things that I was able to do well (attention that as I look back, I see was much undeserved). Usually the sin fell to my mouth - what could I say to separate myself from the people who were like me - what was funny - what made me 'one of the guys'. My mouth still gets me into trouble, but not nearly as much, and certainly not in the same ways.

The underlying struggle is still here in my heart as well, but the people I associate with are different, so their expectations are different, resulting in my actions being different. I have surrounded myself with people within the church. This, of course has caused huge failure in my life as well, and step by step God is weeding it out of my heart - teaching me to only look to Him for approval. Every single thing I do, I know people who do it better - and that is a great place for me to be in - even when I'm complemented I know that I am not on top of anything - and that is a good place for me to be. God has been so good and so gracious to me - He has set me up in a spot where I can grow, where I can give glory to Him, and where I can look to Him and Him alone for fulfillment.

Romans 6:22 says, "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification and the outcome, eternal life." Praise the Lord! He carries us step by step, showing us our sin, and slowly working it out of us - sanctifying us - making us holy.

The choice is ours - He does not force it on us - we are to present God our lives, consider ourselves dead to sin. He tells us not to let sin reign in our bodies - all of these phrases and words portray actions that we are to do - which means we have the power to do - we are not hopelessly lost to these bodies of sin that have brought so much pain throughout our lives - God has set us free. He is sanctifying us - making us holy - fit for eternal life with Him!