"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (verse 4). I was baptised as an infant, grew up in the Presbyterian Church: Sunday School, VBS, church camp, choir, confirmation . . .I went through the motions of being a Christain because I wanted to be obedient. God was a distant and abstract entity in my life. My parents divorced and I became a rebellious teen, went to college and lived in the world. I had a plan and by the age of 32 thought I had it all. But the battle of my life was yet ahead. After several attempts to "fix" my marriage, I found myself at the Lord's feet. At 36 years old, I was baptised through full immersion and began my new life in Christ. It has been ten years. There have been some valleys to walk through, but He has been present and faithful in every moment. My Lord wanted all of my life, not just the little pieces I would offer to Him, but everything. It took me three years from the time of my baptism to finally fall on my knees and give Him everything. ". . . you are slaves to sin which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness" (verse 16b). There is no in between, no half-way; it is all or nothing. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" (verse 23). I choose life and now I work to help others find the same freedom I have been given in Christ Jesus. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness,and the result is eternal life" (verse 22). Amen, Amen!
1) Verse 8 "if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also LIVE with Him."
2) Verse 10(b) - "the life he lives, He lives to God."
3) Verse 19(a) - "you are weak in your natural selves."
If I am to "live WITH Him", to me that means I need to bring Him along in everything I do - my thoughts, my actions, my job, my life principles, my relationships - I run everything by His authority. In doing so, I "will live my life TO God".
I am "weak in my natural self" - my natural self is to not spend time with God, be selfish in life, live life for me. BUT - if I read His word daily, pray/communicate with Him often, worship collectively with other Christians, learn and apply biblical principles (via the small group) with the support of other Christians - then I am NOT alone in my natural self. Therefore, I am strong - strong in Christ.
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."
When I stop to reflect upon the fact that I have been set free from sin, it overwhelms me. I always choke up when we sing the song, Here I Am to Worship.
And here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that you're my God You're altogether lovely. altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.
I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
I fall deep into prayer when we sing this song.
Dear Gpd, I'm working hard to become a slave to you. I yearn for holiness and eternal life with you. Thank you for the members of the Contemporary Band who inspire me through music to be closer to you.
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (verse 4).
ReplyDeleteI was baptised as an infant, grew up in the Presbyterian Church: Sunday School, VBS, church camp, choir, confirmation . . .I went through the motions of being a Christain because I wanted to be obedient. God was a distant and abstract entity in my life. My parents divorced and I became a rebellious teen, went to college and lived in the world. I had a plan and by the age of 32 thought I had it all. But the battle of my life was yet ahead. After several attempts to "fix" my marriage, I found myself at the Lord's feet. At 36 years old, I was baptised through full immersion and began my new life in Christ. It has been ten years. There have been some valleys to walk through, but He has been present and faithful in every moment.
My Lord wanted all of my life, not just the little pieces I would offer to Him, but everything. It took me three years from the time of my baptism to finally fall on my knees and give Him everything. ". . . you are slaves to sin which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness" (verse 16b). There is no in between, no half-way; it is all or nothing. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" (verse 23). I choose life and now I work to help others find the same freedom I have been given in Christ Jesus. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness,and the result is eternal life" (verse 22). Amen, Amen!
Three verses (or partial verses) stick out to me:
ReplyDelete1) Verse 8 "if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also LIVE with Him."
2) Verse 10(b) - "the life he lives, He lives to God."
3) Verse 19(a) - "you are weak in your natural selves."
If I am to "live WITH Him", to me that means I need to bring Him along in everything I do - my thoughts, my actions, my job, my life principles, my relationships - I run everything by His authority. In doing so, I "will live my life TO God".
I am "weak in my natural self" - my natural self is to not spend time with God, be selfish in life, live life for me. BUT - if I read His word daily, pray/communicate with Him often, worship collectively with other Christians, learn and apply biblical principles (via the small group) with the support of other Christians - then I am NOT alone in my natural self. Therefore, I am strong - strong in Christ.
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."
ReplyDeleteWhen I stop to reflect upon the fact that I have been set free from sin, it overwhelms me. I always choke up when we sing the song, Here I Am to Worship.
And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely.
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I fall deep into prayer when we sing this song.
Dear Gpd,
I'm working hard to become a slave to you. I yearn for holiness and eternal life with you. Thank you for the members of the Contemporary Band who inspire me through music to be closer to you.