Romans 6:8-11

Do we consider ourselves dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus?

I have to admit, some days I walk in this understanding more than others. I find that this tends to ebb and flow in direct proportion to my daily reading of God's Word—or lack thereof.

I don’t know how God does it, but it is amazing how what I read in the morning often contains an important piece of wisdom I need for the day. It is equally amazing how ill-prepared I can be when I neglect that time in His Word. That lack of preparation usually reveals itself in a lack of focus or an inability to handle situations in the best way, mentally and otherwise.

That is part of the reason I started writing these posts. It is a daily discipline that helps me keep the Word of God before me.

We need God’s grace every day. We need to come before Him daily to receive what is necessary to face the challenges ahead. Oh, we may try to live off yesterday’s manna for a while, but it will not sustain us indefinitely. We need fresh nourishment from His Word.

Consider what God told Joshua in Joshua 1:8:

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

You know what catches my attention about this verse? Two words—“only then.”

Who doesn’t want to prosper and succeed? God tells us where to find the principles needed to live a successful life. They are right at our fingertips, readily available to us. We simply need to avail ourselves of the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and revelation found in His Word as the Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding.

And what did Jesus say?

“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4)

God has already provided what we need to walk in victory, and part of that involves understanding this important truth—Jesus took care of the sin problem.

We are no longer bound as slaves to do sin’s bidding. The prison door has been opened; we need only walk out in the freedom Christ has provided. Sin brought death into the world, and its destructive consequences have touched every one of us. But through Christ, we have been set free from its dominion.
Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

God’s help is always available to us, but its transforming power becomes more evident in our lives as we walk in obedience to His Word. Obedience does not earn us His grace; rather, it positions us to walk more fully in what His grace has already provided.

We are alive to God through Christ Jesus. Now, let us learn to walk in the fullness of that life!