The word for this week is "yield". We'll be looking at Romans 6:12-19:
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. KJV
These are all the Greek word "paristemi". Strong's Concordance says: to stand beside, to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate, to aid. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: to present, to bring into one's presence, to show, to offer, to dedicate, to provide, to send. One of the biggest blessings that we have been given is our free will. We are free to choose which direction we will take in every situation. We are free to put the Word into our hearts so that it is the Word that comes out of our mouths as a response to attacks from the enemy. We are also free to choose not to do so. We are free to choose, but we are NOT free from the consequences of these choices. If we choose to operate contrary to the Word of God, then the results that we receive into our lives will be contrary to the promises of God. When we choose to obey the Word, then we choose the blessings! This same Greek word is also translated 'present' in Romans 12:1-2:
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV
I know that you have been making good "Word" choices because of the results that you have been having! This Greek word, and all of the many nuances of it, is simply encouraging us to continue in the BLESSING choices so that we can continue to BE a blessing! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Blessed":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
