The Daily Decision: Instruments of Righteousness or Unrighteousness?

# The Daily Decision: Instruments of Righteousness or Unrighteousness?

Every single day, we face a fundamental choice that shapes our spiritual trajectory and defines our relationship with God. This choice isn't passive or accidental—it's an intentional decision of the will. Romans 6:13 presents this choice with stunning clarity: "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."

The word "present" in this passage carries profound significance. In the original Greek, it means "to place beside or near"—a decision of the will. This isn't about accidentally stumbling into sin or being caught off guard by temptation. It's about the deliberate choices we make about where we go, who we spend time with, and what we allow to influence our hearts and minds.

## The Truth About Temptation

One of the most important truths we must understand is that sin is always an inside job. James 1:13-16 makes this abundantly clear: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."

God does not tempt us. This is non-negotiable biblical truth. Those who believe God is tempting them are deceived, plain and simple. Temptation springs from our own evil desires and fleshly appetites.

But what about Satan? Scripture does call him "the tempter." How do we reconcile this with the truth that temptation comes from within?

The answer lies in understanding spiritual warfare. Satan is called "the prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. Think of it this way: we are all like radio receivers, and from birth, we're automatically tuned to Satan's transmitting station. He sends signals—thoughts, circumstances, situations—designed specifically to entice our evil desires and lusts.

However, here's the critical point: Satan cannot make you sin. He can broadcast temptation, but you are the only person who can make you sin. He uses situations and circumstances to appeal to the weaknesses he knows we have, but he has no power to force our hand.

This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to take "every thought captive to obey Christ." The battle begins in our minds. When those thoughts come—and they will come—we must be sober-minded and reject them before they conceive and give birth to sin.

## The Armor Makes the Difference

Understanding how spiritual warfare works makes Ephesians 6:10-20 all the more vital. We must put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit—these aren't optional accessories. They're essential protection against the flaming darts of the evil one.

Satan hasn't changed his tactics since the Garden of Eden. We know how he works. We're not ignorant of his designs, as 2 Corinthians 2:11 reminds us. The question isn't whether we can defend ourselves—it's whether we will.

## Where You Go Matters

When we understand that "present" means making a willful decision to place ourselves in a position, the implications become sobering. If you've been delivered from alcohol, the bar probably isn't the best place to spend your time. When you go where you used to sin, you're setting yourself up to fail.

God takes this seriously. Where you go, who you hang out with, who influences you—these all matter tremendously. Your thoughts matter. Your desires matter. Presenting yourself is always a decision, never merely a result of circumstance.

## Tools for Death or Life

The concept of being "instruments" is equally powerful. We're all tools being used to produce something. The question is: what are we producing?

When we present our members as instruments of unrighteousness, we bear "fruit for death" (Romans 7:5). We become tools used to produce injustice, iniquity, and spiritual death.

Colossians 3:5 identifies some of these products clearly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. Let's be honest about what these mean.

**Sexual immorality** includes adultery—not just physical acts, but lustful thoughts as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:28. It includes sex before marriage, regardless of how long you've been dating or how much society accepts it. Genesis 2:24 establishes God's design: one man and one woman in marriage. Anything outside this framework is sin, no matter how we try to justify it.

**Impurity** extends beyond actions to include evil thoughts and intentions. Your mind can be a battlefield where sin takes root long before it manifests in behavior.

**Passion** here refers to being consumed with evil desires to the point of acting on them—whether sexual or otherwise—in ways that contradict God's Word.

**Covetousness** is the insatiable desire for more, never being satisfied with God's provision. It's telling God that His good gifts aren't enough, making our desires into idols that compete with Him for our affection.

## The Better Way

But there's a radically different path available. When we present our members as instruments of righteousness, we become tools in God's hands. We see spiritual growth, renewed minds, transformed beliefs, changed thoughts, and altered behavior—not through our own effort, but because we've positioned ourselves to be used by God through the Holy Spirit.

The fruit becomes unmistakable: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These aren't manufactured through willpower; they're produced by the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

True love—the kind that reflects God's character—can only be learned from Jesus Himself. Joy that persists despite circumstances comes from Jesus, not from favorable situations. Peace in the midst of chaos is possible because Jesus is our peace.

## The Honest Assessment

Here's the challenging question we must all face: What fruit is actually visible in your life right now? Not what you hope to produce or what you think you should produce—what are you actually producing?

Ask those closest to you. Ask your spouse, your children, your brothers and sisters in Christ. Most importantly, ask God: "Am I presenting my members as an instrument of righteousness or unrighteousness?"

Then deal honestly with what He reveals.

This isn't about condemnation—it's about transformation. You've been brought from death to life. Now the daily decision remains: Will you present yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness, or will you present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness?

The choice is always, ultimately, yours.