Death to Life
Good Morning
1 Corinthians 15:31 “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
Humanity, frail, sinful, selfish, corrupt, and much more are in the hands of God being transformed to "Christlikeness." The process is in His hands, and changing the literal nature of someone is no small task – therefore, we have Romans 8:28-29.
God: divine, perfect, holy, righteous, pure, and an infinite list of other adjectives could follow. As bad as we are, we are being transformed into the divine nature, and the processes no easy task.
2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
vs. 4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
There are things we need – things we must be passionate about to begin the work of changing our very nature. The carnal, casual, or unconcerned Christian will have little Christlikeness in this life. I am not sure of the path, but at the end, when we see Him, we will be like Him. (1 John 3:2) Cultivating a longing to walk in His presence and to be like Him will require the need for a daily filling of His Word and meditation on His truths, as well as surrender to the Divine hand that brings into our lives those things that will help to develop a life of glory and honor for His purposes.
We read about denial (Mark 8:34) and death of our carnal desires (Romans 6:6) that we might be alive unto God (Romans 6:11).
Romans 8:36 “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Also see Romans 12:1-2)
We are to be available for sacrifice, death, and surrender of all our longings and desires. This is not about God helping us fulfill our dreams, but about God using us to accomplish eternal and divine deeds. In His wonderful mercy, He allows us to be partakers in the magnificent work of the Almighty.
We mistakenly think that the Lord is here for our good, our needs, and our work. We almost treat God as though He is a trainer in the boxer’s corner; someone to be there, to make a few comments, to help out, and to cheer us on to carry out our plan, our purpose, and ultimately, our glory. Not so! The work is God’s, and the power is God’s, and the purposes are God's. We are the tool (and not a very good tool yet). More realistically, we are the raw iron, and He is the blacksmith who heats and pounds, and heats again to shape us until we become useful. Only then can He begin using us. The best blades take the longest time to temper and shape.
Paul says in the following verse that the life of Christ cannot be seen in us until we die:
2 Corinthians 4:10 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
vs. 11 “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
Pain, suffering, forced conformation, and tearing away at our selfish arrogance is no easy path to travel to Christlikeness. Those who help us, likewise, suffer much in their work with us.
Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…”
Trust Him with your days, no matter the journey.
Pastor