THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES. DO NOT OFFER ANY PART OF YOURSELF TO SIN AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE; AND OFFER EVERY PART OF YOURSELF TO HIM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Romans 6:11-14).

There have been times in my life when I felt extremely ashamed of myself.  I WAS ASHAMED OF MY REACTIONS—for how I behaved when other people accused me, abused me, or attacked me. Because of what others did to me, I allowed the negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies—the origin of sin—to reign in my thoughts and in my emotions; then, to carry over to my deeds. I offered my spirit, soul, and body to the father-of-lies as an instrument of wickedness. I did to others what was wrong, because others did to me what was wrong.

DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED AND WHO CORRECTLY HANDLES THE WORD OF TRUTH
(2 Timothy 2:15).

How relieved I was when I discovered that God sent His Son into my world to overcome the principle of sin—the negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies and their effects on my thoughts, emotions, and deeds. However, in order to become an instrument of His Righteousness, I had to choose Him as the Master of my thoughts, my emotions, and my subsequent deeds, moment-by-moment. Each time I chose the right Master, I was able to present myself to God as one approved, someone who does to others what is right, after others did to me what was wrong.

BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD
(Romans 12:21).

I bless you to overcome evil with good, during this Christmas season, even when someone accuses you, abuses you, or attacks you. Do not offer your thoughts, your emotions, and your deeds to the father-of-lies as an instrument of wickedness to obey his evil desires, but offer every part of yourself to God to be used as an instrument of His Righteousness. Do this, so that you do not have to be ashamed of your deeds, but be someone who is approved, all the time.

Who is your moment-by-moment master? Who reigns in your thoughts, emotions, and deeds, this Christmas season?

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming into my world to overcome the principle of sin in my life. Because of what You have done for me, I now have the choice to be an instrument of Your Righteousness.