Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, May 21, 2023
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Paul pointed out that humans have the capacity to choose to do better.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he pointed out something quite profound. He noted that we have died to sin as Christ died to sin. He acknowledged that sin still abounds in this life, but here’s where he nailed it. Paul said, “Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.”
Too often we have gotten away with bad behaviors and chalked them up to human nature. Too many women have been physically and sexually abused because of the message, “boys will be boys,” as if males have no capacity to choose their behavior. Too many Black men have been murdered because the powers that be believe Black people are an inferior species. Too many families have been enslaved to the cycle of poverty because they are “lazy” and “you get what you work for.” Too often people are abused, enslaved, impoverished, and kept unhealthy because “some things just can’t be changed.”
Paul disagreed. He acknowledged that humans have the capacity to choose how they behave. Men don’t get to touch women simply because women dress in a way that excites them. Men have the ability to choose to keep their hands to themselves. White people don’t get to murder Black people simply because they may have a warrant for a misdemeanor. Administrators don’t get to expel kids with autism simply because they have a hard time keeping their language in check.
We can do better. We can choose. We can make sure, “Look what you made me do,” is never uttered. We can reject the notion that men “babysit” their own children as if they’re doing mom a favor. We can see all people as beloved of God and therefore worthy of our love and respect, too. We can do better.
