Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Romans 6:11 (KJV)
In baptism, we are united with Christ in his death (see Romans 6:1-14 for the background of this devotional meditation). Our old sinful selves are crucified with Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are freed from sin, death, and evil powers that could separate us from God (Colossians 2:12-15, 1:13-14). We are alive in Christ — the one whom sin could not master and death could not conquer. His life is now our life. His victory is our victory. His future is our future (Colossians 3:1-4). Let's set our hearts to live based on this certainty, realizing that we are dead to our past failures and sins and now alive to Jesus' future for us!
Gracious Father, I find it incredible that you killed my past failures with Jesus' death on the cross. You put all my past sins in the grave of your crucified Son. You have raised me to a new life in Christ, united with him and his glorious future. Inspire me to find meaning, joy, and victory in Jesus. Strengthen me with your Spirit and conform me more perfectly to my LORD (2 Corinthians 3:18). Please empower me to live, fully trusting that all of my sin is dead, buried, and gone. Please give me the confidence that my new life is bound up with Jesus and his future. Jesus, thank you for this hope, and offer this praise in your name. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—Romans 6:11 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
In baptism, we are united with Christ in his death (see Romans 6:1-14 for the background of this devotional meditation). Our old sinful selves are crucified with Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are freed from sin, death, and evil powers that could separate us from God (Colossians 2:12-15, 1:13-14). We are alive in Christ — the one whom sin could not master and death could not conquer. His life is now our life. His victory is our victory. His future is our future (Colossians 3:1-4). Let's set our hearts to live based on this certainty, realizing that we are dead to our past failures and sins and now alive to Jesus' future for us!
My Prayer...
Gracious Father, I find it incredible that you killed my past failures with Jesus' death on the cross. You put all my past sins in the grave of your crucified Son. You have raised me to a new life in Christ, united with him and his glorious future. Inspire me to find meaning, joy, and victory in Jesus. Strengthen me with your Spirit and conform me more perfectly to my LORD (2 Corinthians 3:18). Please empower me to live, fully trusting that all of my sin is dead, buried, and gone. Please give me the confidence that my new life is bound up with Jesus and his future. Jesus, thank you for this hope, and offer this praise in your name. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
