We don’t hear the term often anymore, but what comes to mind when you read the word “besetting?”

The dictionary defines the verb beset as to surround and harass; assail on all sides. Most often I’ve heard the adjective besetting to describe a besetting sin.

We know that each and every one of us has sinned, but a besetting sin is one that surrounds or attacks a person consistently. For some it may be an intense desire that goes against God’s will for us such as a lust or greed. For others, the besetting sin might be related to deceit or holding a grudge or bitterness and that’s the point. A besetting sin is a challenge faced by a particular individual that may leave you feeling boxed in or trapped.

Have you ever faced a besetting sin in your life? Think about it. Is there a recurring area of temptation or behavior that lingers?

I remember talking to a friend some years ago who mentioned a particular type of sin and seemed resigned to the fact that it would not be overcome. That troubled me then and it still does. If Christ died and rose again to set us free (Galatians 5:1), why don’t we live accordingly at times?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes a helpful process –

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Romans 6:11-14 (NLT)

Paul describes three points here:

• First, we need to know that God’s plan to redeem us is through the work of Christ and that includes any and every sin in our lives.
• Second the Christian has a new attitude toward sin – no more control over our lives, no more giving up in a moment of weakness.
• Third, we are to fight, not on our own, but dependent on Christ’s work so we have the power to “give yourselves completely to God.”

There is a reason the Christian life is referred to as a walk. Each day, each hour and sometimes each minute we may need to be reminded that any besetting “sin is no longer your master…Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.