I am dead to sin...
Romans 6:1-4,17,18 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
I'm Dying to Know...
Joni Eareckson Tada
December 8, 2014
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24
“We use words in strange ways. Take the word dying. Your daughter in tenth grade says she's dying to know the football captain of the neighboring high school. Your son in Little League might be dying to meet the national baseball commissioner. Or perhaps you are dying to know what the loud quarrels next door are all about.
“It's an exaggeration, to say the least. You're not really willing to kick the bucket in order to find out about your neighbor's problems, but there is one use of the expression that is no exaggeration at all. Are you dying to know the Lord?
“The apostle Paul spoke of this when he said, ‘I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection... becoming like Him in His death.’ Paul realized that in order to know Christ fully, it meant crucifying the old man. Mortifying his sinful nature with all its passions. Nailing worldly affections to the cross. Reckoning himself dead to sin and alive to God.
“We say we want to know the Lord's love, to feel His favor, to experience His joy and peace. We want to know His presence and His smile. But could we say we are dying to know Him? If so, Jesus asks you to meet Him at the cross.
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“What does it take to know Jesus in an intimate and personal way? The Bible calls it being crucified with Christ, but you could call it "saying no to sin." Ask the Lord to give you His resurrection power and help you squelch anger, stifle gossip, and put a lid on those mind games.
“The power of Your resurrection, Lord, is what I need when I say ‘no’ to sin. Let me become like You in your death, crucifying every passion that displeases You. I want to know You. I am dying to know You.”
“Dying to know You.” What a powerful statement – and a difficult one to actually live out. Dying to self doesn’t come naturally – it’s a daily – hourly – choice, and I have to admit that in the last week I’ve not been very successful at doing it. My flesh is pretty powerful – and my spirit is often too weak to put up a fight. Sad, but true. There are two things I remind myself of when I fail – I’m aware of my failure (so there’s hope for change the next time) – and God’s grace covers a multitude of my sin. But I LONG to KNOW Him – to live in victory – to walk in His power! So – I have to keep “killing myself” – allowing Him to work in me in a way that conforms me into His image. Painful? Yes – absolutely. Worth it? YES!
Romans 6:1-4,17,18 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
I'm Dying to Know...
Joni Eareckson Tada
December 8, 2014
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24
“We use words in strange ways. Take the word dying. Your daughter in tenth grade says she's dying to know the football captain of the neighboring high school. Your son in Little League might be dying to meet the national baseball commissioner. Or perhaps you are dying to know what the loud quarrels next door are all about.
“It's an exaggeration, to say the least. You're not really willing to kick the bucket in order to find out about your neighbor's problems, but there is one use of the expression that is no exaggeration at all. Are you dying to know the Lord?
“The apostle Paul spoke of this when he said, ‘I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection... becoming like Him in His death.’ Paul realized that in order to know Christ fully, it meant crucifying the old man. Mortifying his sinful nature with all its passions. Nailing worldly affections to the cross. Reckoning himself dead to sin and alive to God.
“We say we want to know the Lord's love, to feel His favor, to experience His joy and peace. We want to know His presence and His smile. But could we say we are dying to know Him? If so, Jesus asks you to meet Him at the cross.
___________________________________________
“What does it take to know Jesus in an intimate and personal way? The Bible calls it being crucified with Christ, but you could call it "saying no to sin." Ask the Lord to give you His resurrection power and help you squelch anger, stifle gossip, and put a lid on those mind games.
“The power of Your resurrection, Lord, is what I need when I say ‘no’ to sin. Let me become like You in your death, crucifying every passion that displeases You. I want to know You. I am dying to know You.”
“Dying to know You.” What a powerful statement – and a difficult one to actually live out. Dying to self doesn’t come naturally – it’s a daily – hourly – choice, and I have to admit that in the last week I’ve not been very successful at doing it. My flesh is pretty powerful – and my spirit is often too weak to put up a fight. Sad, but true. There are two things I remind myself of when I fail – I’m aware of my failure (so there’s hope for change the next time) – and God’s grace covers a multitude of my sin. But I LONG to KNOW Him – to live in victory – to walk in His power! So – I have to keep “killing myself” – allowing Him to work in me in a way that conforms me into His image. Painful? Yes – absolutely. Worth it? YES!
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