Bible League: Living His Word For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.— Colossians 2:12 NLT If you're a Christian, then there's a part of you that has died. It is spiritual death. The old you, the sinful nature, is dead. What the Apostle Paul often refers to metaphorically as "the flesh," is dead. When it was still alive, it controlled your desires and led you down pathways that were at odds with the will and ways of God. Spiritually, the old nature died on the cross with Jesus Christ. Paul puts it this way, "My old self has been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20). Your baptism symbolized the spiritual death and burial of your sinful self with Christ. Your baptism also symbolized the resurrection of the new you with Christ. The new you is the Spirit-led nature that came to life with Christ. Paul goes on to say, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Within the soul of every Christian there's a struggle between the old and the new, between the old, sinful self and the new bondage-free self which is led by the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Paul says, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions" (Galatians 5:17). Despite the struggle, the victory we have in Christ Jesus cannot be taken from us. In the end with strength from the Spirit, the new you can overcome the old you. Any gains the flesh may have achieved are just temporary. Ultimately, they are overcome by the victory of the new person you are in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Like Paul says in our verse for today, you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Therefore, the new you wins. No residual stains from the old you can ever change that. In fact, God does not even see your stains, because you are washed and made white as snow (Psalm 51:7)! Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingExodus 22, 23, 24 Exodus 22 -- Property Rights and Social Laws NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 23 -- Laws of Justice, Mercy, Sabbath, Annual Festivals, Conquest NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 24 -- The People Affirm Their Covenant with God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 20:17-34 Matthew 20 -- Parable of the Vineyard Workers; Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection, Heals Two Blind Men NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Oh, the joys of those who do notfollow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. Insight This psalm begins extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God's will. This attitude is the same as mocking. Challenge Do your friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friends should help you to draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.When Jesus gave himself for us, he gave us all the rights and privileges which went with himself; so that now, although as eternal God, he has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal head of the covenant of grace, he has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of his obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in him, and on whose behalf he accomplished the divine will. See, he enters into glory, but not for himself alone, for it is written, "Whither the Forerunner is for us entered." Heb. 6:20. Does he stand in the presence of God?--"He appears in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:24. Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through his blood; if you are justified, it is through his righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because he is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in him. Thus Jesus is magnified--for all is in him and by him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us--for it is obtained in him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved "in whom" we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and his treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ's sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ's possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. "All things are yours, for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's." Daily Light on the Daily Path Lamentations 3:27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Hebrews 12:9,10 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? • For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. Psalm 119:67,71 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. • It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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