Romans 6:1-23 KJV 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Living for Jesus is easy words to speak in church and even sing, but when it comes to reality of life, our human nature sometimes wrestles with human instincts. Believers we still get angry, we still get mad, we still have evil thoughts, and we still have to deal with our emotions. No matter if you are pacifiest or not you have to learn to say what would Jesus do. The answer is to live righteously, to obey God, to not allow your anger to control what you do or say. One can not entertain sin in their concious or they may become like Cain and sin. Sin can not remain in our hearts and minds. It dangerous. Yet we all have our days and our weeks, where our own thoughts could have ability to reign and control us if we allow it. Fact is scripture says we are free from sin. It does not mean it does not knock at the door of our mind and soul. It does not mean it does not try to over power us. Yet what does mean we are free from guilt of sin, the eternal punishment of sin. a believer is buried in water baptism with Christ. The flesh nature being buried, the flesh nature is sent free from sin with resurrection of Christ. One has to be a believer in Christ and received His salvation to longer be yoked in bondage to sin. I use to have birds, that I kept in a cage. Taking them out daily for a taste of freedom, but they were yoked by the burden learning not to get entrapped behind a piece of furniture or dealing with a cat. We sing the praises of God and fill the freedom of faith only to face the world once more that ensnares us to sin. The safety of the cage might seem lovely, but in truth the going beyond the door to face the world has its own snares. Ever let a bird loose in a house you know real quick how dangerous it can be for them. If you have a cat, he might think they are lunch, They can even get trapped behind a piece of furniture that to big for them to move. Someone has to rescue them. God's salvation plan is his grace through Christ Jesus. I have not been talking alot about God's grace lately, maybe it is over sight, or maybe judgment needed to be heard. For God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV. How true it is that God loved us to redeem us. It hard to grasp a love that would allow someone to hurt their Son for the world. To allow pain and death to come to his Son. God did it to drive the point home, of the cost of sin. The very price of sin. Yet upon believing the responsibility is to share the love of God about Christ. God did not set us free from sin of eternal death for us to keep sinning. Before one became a believer they were enslaved to sin. Enslaved to do the will of the enemy, with the choice to not sin. Freedom is to know God still loves us and to be enslaved to a way of peace and happiness. To be enslaved to faith in God. To be slaved into a yoke of hope, and not evil. Righteousness comes with belief and submission to obeying God especially in believing it God's way. A few years ago I seen a crime in a paper, Heard about the crime from a friend first. The picture in the paper did not match what was told. Which do you believe the paper or the person that was there. Truth was told much later when a person was convicted of a crime. Sometimes there more to a story. Yet with God is love is real. His way is a way of protection. Doing the right thing can cost you in this world, but God does reward his people. Joseph was imprisoned in Genesis and then became a ruler in Egypt before a famine occurred. One has to ask the price of being good can be the same as evil, for a time, but God is a rewarder to his people. God's grace does abound in the believers life as we yield to Him. Our choice needs to always be to live righteously with faith doing the will of God despite what else may happen. I paint a double picture, why because believers we need to realize that not all situations work out like we suspect they should. The journey to freedom land is a journey of faith. Old Testament takes the believer on a journey of faith. Apostle Paul in the New Testament along with other disciples journey of faith did not always end well on earth, but the reward was still the same, heaven would be their home. God's plan of salvation came with prophesy, came with knowledge of hope. It did not come without hope all along. Sin beckons of unbelief and sin of human nature of disobedience. We must rely on God's word to tell the truth to our hearts and soul. To listen to God's voice of what we should do in every situation. Dear Heavenly Father help us to walk in obedience to your word, and to walk not in the yoke of bondage of sin, but in the freedom you gave us through your Son. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Matthew 11:28-30 KJV 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. http://www.turtle30cshell.com