WALKING DEAD
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:5-14 New King James Version).
When we come to Christ and are saved, we are new creations. We no longer are required to live our old lives nor are we “slaves” to our old lives. Oh, we may still live in the same homes, hold the same jobs, deal with the same people, but we are not who we used to be and we do not have to behave as such anymore. If, before Christ, we were liars, fornicators, addicts, selfish, greed-driven, or what have you…after Christ, we are not bound by those habits anymore. We are set free and a new person emerges! We are someone different because Christ now resides in us.
I recently heard a great question that I think we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. “Am I dead and is Christ alive in me?” If Christ is alive in us, we are dead to ourselves, because we have died to our past behaviors and they no longer hold dominion over us. There are so many in the Body of Christ, who come to Christ, but fail to allow themselves to die to themselves. Church, we are not our own! We don’t own ourselves; Jesus Christ does because He paid all of our sin debt for us. Jesus died so that we could live in Him!
Many brothers and sisters walk around calling themselves by Christ’s name, but do not walk in submission to Him. They do not experience the blessings of His abundance and divine provision because they hold on to their old way of life. They refuse to let go of past relationships which caused them to stumble; to give up their “rights”; to forgive those who have hurt them; they don’t want to let God be their sustenance and rather would trust in themselves. They walk with heaviness, they speak defeat; they read the Word of God but do not align themselves with it. They hold on to youthful lusts and habits of life for fear of rejection and ridicule. Church, this is no way to live if we walk under the banner of Jesus and have been washed by His blood! We must submit to God and resist the devil. When we fully submit to God, we have died to ourselves and once that happens then Christ can truly live through us!
Let’s Pray: Dear Sweet Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy; thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins and for the salvation of our souls. Father, we love You. Forgive us for trying to remain alive to ourselves, grant mercy on those who continue to refuse to die and let Jesus live through them. Father, grant us new opportunities to be dead to ourselves and to recognize when we are trying to do all in our flesh. May we come to You as a pure and holy Bride, clothed in white and untainted. May we rise up and be the Church that You have desired us to be; may we put aside our selves and come into alignment with Your word and Your commandments. May we bring Your words of truth into a broken world and may we bring them with joy and humility. May we have boldness to be among the walking dead that are called by the name of Christ and march under His banner. Search us, O God, and know our hearts. Try us and see if there is any wicked way in us and lead us in the way everlasting. We give You all the honor and glory and praise! We bow in worship at Your feet. We stand before You in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Attitude of Worship: If you have not been among the walking dead, it’s not too late! God has granted a new day with new mercies, repent of your selfishness and pray for Him to reveal where you are still alive to yourself. Ask for strength and courage to let go of that which you have held onto so tightly. Allow Him to fill you with all you need.
Additional Scriptures: James 4:7; John 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:8-11
“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.” ~C S Lewis
Shalom,
Prudence
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