As we habitually die to our self-nature, we continually
live in God’s presence, following the leading of His Spirit and walking in His
will. Even if we live in the most perverse of circumstances, His life in us
sustains us through it all. We focus on the spiritual, eternal aspects, which
no one and no circumstance can steal from us. We have His guarantee that the
world will pass away, but that if we live according to His will, we live with
Him now and forever (1 John 2:17).
How many of us are truly willing to lay down our life every
single day? John 13:38) The Good News is that Christ in
us enables us to die to sin and to refuse to fulfill the deeds of our flesh,
which rise up within us (Romans 8:13). All authority is givento
Jesus, and He continually lives within every Born Again Believer (Matthew
28:18). He is our victory, and we live victoriously as we follow
the leading of His Spirit moment by moment throughout our day.
Dying to our self is not a very popular concept today (1
Corinthians 15:31). We live for our self, and we wallow in the desires of the
flesh. Therefore, to crucify our flesh is a foreign concept to most Christians
today. We can expect nothing less from a society that purports the concept of,
“If it feels good, do it.” There is every type of degradation and deprivation
known to man permeating every facet of our society. It constantly bombards us.
Are you willing to join me at my funeral? We simply need to
decide that we are willing to no longer promote our self, and instead to
promote Christ and His Kingdom in the earth. His Word and His Spirit reveal to
us His will for our life. His Spirit conforms us into His image (Romans
8:29). By His loving care for us, He proves to us that He is worthy of our
trust and praise. He calls us to live joyfully, prayerfully and thankfully in
ever situation (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Prayer:
Father God, once we separate our self from this world, and
live for You, we learn to be content because You are always in us and with us (Philippians
4:12). We willingly lay down our life for You, just as You freely laid down
Your life for us. Keep us in the center of Your will. Do not allow us to wander
to the left or the right. Teach us to have faith in Your faithfulness and to empty
our self of our own abilities and effort, so that we can enter into Your rest (Hebrews
4:10). Show us the works You established for us to accomplish before the
foundation of the world, and help us to walk in them (Ephesians
2:10).
Thought for the Day:
God is in control; and He is working out all things, even
the most perverse and negative circumstance, for our ultimate good. – Romans
8:28