I loved being a Cub Scout! I wore my little blue and gold uniform to school on meeting days and decorated my bedroom with scouting memorabilia. I especially loved making crafts out of popsicle sticks (because you had to eat the popsicles first). There were all kinds of special events, from the pinewood derby, where you carved little wooden race cars, to the knights of the round table where you made cardboard armor.
That image of the knights of the round table will help us understand the Apostle Paul’s imagery in Romans 6:12 – 14.
Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (New Revised Standard Version).
The picture Paul paints is of a soldier standing before a king. He offers himself and his weapons in service to his master. Today, we need to ask two questions. First, who is your Lord? As Bob Dylan sang, “You’ve got to serve somebody. It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’ve got to serve somebody.” The second question may require a little more thought. “How can the parts of my body be used in service to the Lord?” Imagine what God can do with your tongue, your eyes, your hands, your feet, and your heart!
I’m going to go enjoy a popsicle while I think about it.