Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,
to make you obey its passions.
Romans 6:12 (ESV)

Put multiple kids together in one place and it’s bound to happen. Someone will rise above and seek to govern the rest. “This is what we’re going to play.” “And this is what you’re going to do.” Then one of the kids runs over to an adult and in tears shares how one kid keeps telling them what to do. The adult says, “Is that child in charge of you?” The kid answers, “Well, no.” The adult follows up, “Do you have to listen to their directions?” The kid ponders and with a smile says, “No.” “That’s right; go back and play, and enjoy yourself.”

In a similar way, sin seeks to rule over us. What is our response? You are not the boss of me! Will that stop sin from trying? No, however, God encourages us to respond each time by not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies to obey its crooked passions. We can do this by realizing that we are: (1) dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:11), (2) instruments of righteousness instead of unrighteousness (Rom. 6:12–13), and (3) are under grace and not law (Rom. 6:14). We have a new relationship to sin in Christ, one where we can live victoriously. Nevertheless, sin still gets us sometimes. Like a fish attracted to the bait on a line, we still swim in and get hooked. Why is that? Sin is clever, and the flesh is weak. Maybe it’s time we process its cleverness so we can say no to its tempting reign.

Sin wants your will, but may use your emotions to get there. It can be difficult to stand in biblical principle if your emotions become waves that tip the boat over. What shall I do? Know that emotions are strong, but they will die down. The emotions of lust, anger, jealousy, envy, and such rise quickly, but they do go down. The influence of sin may feel like you have to do what it says or something within you will lose control. But what happens when you give in? You might have a little relief, but then comes those terrible guilty feelings. Conversely, how have you felt when allowing the emotions to pass? You were sure glad that you didn’t give in to it.

Sin doesn’t make good on its promises. Sin promises the moon, but delivers the pit. Sin offers a home cooked meal, but hides poison inside of it. Adam and Eve were promised godlike status, but what they ended up with was shame, exile, and death. Cain was promised satisfaction at the death of his brother, but was banished even further east of God with unbearable judgment. Absalom was promised glorious rule over his father David, but instead found himself buried beneath stones. Sin uses twisted logic. Don’t listen to its false promises.

The best mindset against the reign of sin is presenting yourself to Jesus as an instrument of righteousness. With the focus on Jesus ruling over you, sin will have a difficult time trying to get a word in, and it will sure look ridiculous standing next to Jesus. You are stronger in Christ than you realize. May the Lord bless you to exercise that grace today against the reign of sin.