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"You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:3)
What should we do when we find the pressures of sin so powerful? Our immediate reaction is to say, "I need to be stronger so that I can resist temptation in whatever enticing way it presents itself to me."
Ironically, the reason we fail is exactly the opposite—it is because we are not weak enough! The way Paul puts it is a call to remember that we are dead to sin, and you can't get any weaker than when you are dead. At that point, there is no strength at all! (Romans 6:1-4).
The fact is, says Paul, when you became a Christian, you were baptized into Christ Jesus, and that means you were baptized into his death. "You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:3). "We died to sin" (Romans 6:2). You have been "crucified with him" (Romans 6:6). That is the end of you. To try to deal with the power of sin by becoming stronger so that you can fight it is, therefore, counterproductive and bound to fail. Start by recognizing that you are dead and buried with Christ. If you are a Christian, this is a fact.
Lord, we try so hard in our own strength to defeat sin and be more like Christ. Please show us how to be stronger by finally releasing our grip and allowing our old selves to be buried with Christ. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Ironically, the reason we fail is exactly the opposite—it is because we are not weak enough! The way Paul puts it is a call to remember that we are dead to sin, and you can't get any weaker than when you are dead. At that point, there is no strength at all! (Romans 6:1-4).
The fact is, says Paul, when you became a Christian, you were baptized into Christ Jesus, and that means you were baptized into his death. "You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:3). "We died to sin" (Romans 6:2). You have been "crucified with him" (Romans 6:6). That is the end of you. To try to deal with the power of sin by becoming stronger so that you can fight it is, therefore, counterproductive and bound to fail. Start by recognizing that you are dead and buried with Christ. If you are a Christian, this is a fact.
Lord, we try so hard in our own strength to defeat sin and be more like Christ. Please show us how to be stronger by finally releasing our grip and allowing our old selves to be buried with Christ. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
DECISION MAGAZINE DEVOTIONAL the article above is written by Roger Chilvers. Read the article (Please include this line to forward the message).
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