It's me again God,
As a young Christian, I would often see bumper stickers or posters that read 'Christians aren't perfect —they're just forgiven' and 'Be patient —God isn't finished with me yet'. There was a kind of perception that even as a Christian I would still fall into sin —I remember thinking it was almost like I had an excuse to sin! While it's true that I'm not perfect to those around me —in Your eyes, by Your grace, I am! I thank You that Jesus took all my sins with Him to the cross and died so I could be forgiven —I am flawless in Your sight! But how should I live with this great gift? Paul has plenty to say about this in his letter to the church in Rome:
"So what do we do, then? Do we persist in sin so that God's kindness and grace will increase? What a terrible thought! We have died to sin once and for all, as a dead man passes away from this life. So how could we live under sin's rule a moment longer? Or have you forgotten that all of us who were immersed into union with Jesus, the Anointed One, were immersed into union with his death?"
Romans 6:1-3 TPT
I am reminded that I don't live under sin's rule and there's no need to deliberately keep sinning just to experience more of Your grace!
"Sharing in his death by our baptism means that we were co-buried and entombed with him, so that when the Father's glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with him. We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life. For since we are permanently grafted into him to experience a death like his, then we are permanently grafted into him to experience a resurrection like his and the new life that it imparts."
Romans 6:4-5 TPT
I love the picture of being permanently grafted to Jesus! Thank You that I have been raised to life —'co-resurrected' with Him so I am 'empowered to walk in the freshness of new life'!
"For by his sacrifice he died to sin's power once and for all, but he now lives continuously for the Father's pleasure. So let it be the same way with you! Since you are now joined with him, you must continually view yourselves as dead and unresponsive to sin's appeal while living daily for God's pleasure in union with Jesus, the Anointed One."
Romans 6:10-11 TPT
Today I will live with great joy —living for Your pleasure as I am joined with Jesus! I am dead to the power of sin —it has no appeal for me! Your Grace has changed everything! I will walk in the freshness of new life!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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It's Me Again God 2
SpiritualThis is part 2 of my prayer/devotional 'It's Me Again God'.Join me as I spend time in prayer, read the Bible and just listen to what God has to say each day. He loves us to talk to Him and wants us to get to know Him better. "Your word is a lamp for...
