Alive to God!

"In the same way,

count yourselves dead to sin

but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body

so that you obey its evil desires.

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin,

as instruments of wickedness,

but rather offer yourselves to God,

as those who have been brought from death to life;

and offer the parts of your body to him 

as instruments of righteousness.

For sin shall not be your master,

because you are not under law,

but under grace."

Romans 6:11-14

My family and I recently watched a movie about a young Amish woman who was shunned by her family and community for not adhering to their strict way of life by relinquishing her love for music.  Consequently, she was treated as if she were dead; like she didn't even exist.  

In a similar way, I can consider myself dead to sin, turning my back on my naturally sinful way of thinking, my desires that run counter to God's ways, and the destructive nature of my mouth.  Just as the Amish girl's family ignored her attempts to communicate and even expected her to eat at a separate table, my sinful nature has been crucified on the cross with Jesus, rendering it powerless against His blood.

Simply ignoring sinful urges, however, is not enough.  God has given us an arsenal powered by the blood of Jesus which covers us and makes us appear white as snow.  (1 Corinthians 15:57, Isaiah 1:18)

Don't Let Sin Reign

I once attempted to negotiate one of those large corn mazes in Montana.  After spending a couple of hours, we feared being lost forever in this oblivion of twists and turns.  Right when I thought we had made it out, I would encounter another switchback that led away from the finish line and freedom.  Thankfully, there were "escape gates" located throughout the labyrinth, providing a way out for those whose frustration level had peaked.

While my pride did not relish the thought of taking the easy way out of that challenge, I do need to remember that God has similarly provided an escape hatch for the inevitable times of temptation.  Even though I'm still faced with sin on a consistent basis, it no longer rules over me.  Instead, I have another option through the grace of God found in faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

When a co-worker's destructive spirit of criticism goes to work, tempting me to unleash the weapon of my tongue against her, I have the ability to tame the beast and the option of letting Jesus respond lovingly through me.

During times of stress when I am tempted to analyze all the possible options, considering how I will get out of the lousy circumstances in which I find myself, God provides a way to rest in His power and focus my mind on Him.

I am often faced with the lure of a harmful addiction or habit, whether it be smoking, swearing or eating.  Whatever it is, this habit seems to control me in a way that leaves me feeling helpless.  Thankfully, through faith in Jesus, I now have the power to defeat it's hold on me.  I have the ability to resist, turning my back on the desires of my flesh.

Jesus has given me the ability to deny my fleshly desires by providing a way out of temptation.

Offer Myself to God

Our porch was covered with kids after school that day.  One of the little girls sat down on the steps to eat her sandwich, but as she talked to her friends, our dog casually walked up and gently snatched the snack from her hand.  She was so engrossed in her conversation she didn't notice the thief gobbling up her bread and bologna until it was too late.  

Our dog recognized an easy target when he saw it and didn't waste any time in taking advantage of his victim's vulnerability.  Likewise, Satan knows my weaknesses and won't hesitate to tempt me in areas where I'm still in control instead of God.

Television shows can easily slip subject matter into my home that is an affront to God.  As I watch, my sensitivity to sin begins to wane and my mind conforms to the way the world thinks.  Soon, sex outside of marriage becomes a "mistake" or inevitable instead of a sin against God's holy temple. (Ephesians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

When I'm focused more on my own reputation than I am on God's will, I easily get sucked into activities or even career fields that are outside of God's blueprint for my life.  As I move farther and farther away from His Sovereign plan, I use more of my own common sense and less of His wisdom to guide my footsteps.  Soon, I am the master of my life instead of Jesus. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I encounter all kinds of personalities on a daily basis.  Some people are easy to love, but others just get under my skin.  It seems they want to make me mad and make it their life's work to get a rise out of me!  As long as I'm only considering my own point of view, however, I will never see these "irritants" as God sees them: humans made in His own image. (Genesis 9:6)

If I am to stand up against the sinful temptations Satan sends my way, I will need to offer myself to God.  As Oswald Chambers said, "Guard jealously your relationship to God.  Jesus prayed, 'that they may be one, even as we are one'--nothing between.  Keep all the life perennially open to Jesus Christ, don't pretend with Him."

My relationship with God hinges only on my willingness to turn myself over to Him for His purposes.  Anytime my own pleasure, plans or rights takes precedence over God's, then my fellowship with Him is broken and I am vulnerable to attack from the Evil One.

Giving my relationship with God a top priority means I will yield to Him in all my ways.

Instrument of Righteousness

She'd make a great Christian, I thought to myself as I considered the outgoing woman who befriended everyone she saw.  Her infectious spirit, in my opinion, made her a perfect candidate for evangelism.  Unfortunately, she did not see her need for Jesus during the time I knew her.

It's easy for me to think God uses those who are naturally well-equipped to carry out His mission.  In reality, He equips those He calls instead of choosing only those who are already prepared.  When I choose to dedicate my feeble body to be used by God, He transforms what once was an outlet for sin into an instrument of righteousness.

What used to be a penchant for angry outbursts, in God's hands becomes a passion that burns red-hot for Him.

The struggle to keep fear from ruling my heart, once placed in the God's control, becomes a means of compassion to those who are lost.

When lust rules my mind so I feel I can't resist, but when I allow God to rule instead, I find a new-found sense of mercy in its place.

Instead of my flesh gratifying itself, I can dedicate these struggles to God to be used by Him.

As one who follows Jesus, I am considered to be free from the power of sin in my life.  Unfortunately, it is all too easy to turn back to my natural way of living.  When I don't give sin the opportunity to rule my life and instead offer myself to God, I will find those wretched members prone to sin becoming amazing instruments of righteousness.  It is then that I really discover what it means to be alive to God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will realize the power Jesus has given me against sin.

How do I live with sin instead of letting Jesus defeat it?

When am I choosing my natural ways, thus blocking the openness that could exist between God and I through faith in Jesus?

Live to God

"The death he died,

he died to sin once for all;

but the life he lives,

he lives to God.

In the same way,

count yourselves dead to sin

but alive to God

in Christ Jesus."

Romans 6:10-11

"You've got a lot of choices.  If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice."  U.S. Geologist Steven Woodhull

"Good for the body is the work of the body, and good for the soul is the work of the soul, and good for either is the work of the other."  Henry David Thoreau

"Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you." Humorist and Cartoonist Frank Tyger

Whether I live my life with the goal of happiness, for the sake of work, or based on my own ability and resources, I do live my life for something.  There is a catalyst that starts my engine every morning, driving me to live my life in a certain way.  

It could be that I'm searching for a sense of satisfaction and self-worth that comes with a job well done; a task finished to the best of my ability.  I long to take a step back, admiring my work and beaming with the sense of pleasure that comes with seeing the finished project.

On the other hand, I could be searching for meaning in the humdrum things of life.  I yearn for the satisfaction that comes with dissecting philosophies and gaining a deeper understanding of life.  The quest to know why I'm here and what is my purpose gets my motor running.

Maybe I simply want to experience love that is not based upon my performance.  I search high and low, going after relationships, trying to fill that hole that exists inside of me.  The pursuit to find someone who completes me drives my life.

There are many things to which I can live.  What will deliver true satisfaction and contentment?  To find the answer, I must look to my Creator.  He made all things, and only He understands what truly makes me tick.

Dead to Sin

I am surrounded by opportunities to live my life to please myself.  Messages flood my consciousness telling me that I deserve the best life has to offer, I have worked hard and have earned a certain lifestyle, or I need this or that in order to reach true satisfaction.

All of these messages play to my inner sin nature; my self-centered tendency to look out for myself and my own well-being above all other things.  

As a follower of Christ, this sin nature was nailed to the cross.  When Jesus died to sin, I died to sin along with Him.  As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 6:2, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

I am surrounded by opportunities to give into this sin nature, but I don't need to let myself go through those openings.  Sin is no long my master.  Instead, I can choose to think in a way that pleases God, to speak in a way that is delights my Master, to act in a way that honors Him.  

But it is deeper than just me trying to think, speak and act in a God-honoring way.  Oswald Chambers put it best when he said, "Any strand of our own energy will blur the life of Jesus." Christ did the work of crucifying my sin on the cross with Him, but I must let go of the hold my sin has on me.  I must release the desire to gratify my sinful nature, my self, and surrender it fully to God.

It's more than just dying to sin.  There must be something to replace the void left when I give my dead sinful nature over to God.  What will fill in my empty shell of a body?  What will fuel my drive to please God?

Alive to God

My daughter attempted to make filled chocolate candies one time.  As she formed the empty shell and prepared to squirt the filling inside, it seemed virtually impossible to keep from crushing the delicate candies.  Without the inner support the filling provided, the empty shell was very fragile.

When I submit my desire to please myself over to God, I am left with an empty shell, much like the candy my daughter made.  This emptying of myself leaves room for God's Spirit to take up more of the space inside of me, producing His fruit, shining His light, and spreading His love to all those who come in contact with me.  Without God's Spirit, I am weak and fragile, incapable of withstanding any pressure or accomplishing any God-honoring task.

Oswald Chambers explained the process of yielding to His Spirit, or allowing Him to fill me,  this way.  "The weakest saint can experience the power of the Deity of the son of God if once he is willing to 'let go.'  We have to keep letting go, and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus." 

Letting God's Spirit fill my being means more of Jesus is showing.  And when more of Jesus is showing, more of His attributes will be evident to those observing my life.  When they ask, "I've noticed you're not as impatient as you used to be.  How did you become so tolerant?"  Then I can point to Jesus and explain that it's Him that they're seeing, not me.  Maybe they would like to experience His Hand in their life, as well!

Once I let go of an area of sin, I open up a space in which God's Spirit can dwell, shining His light into a dark world.  I no longer live to please myself but now I live to please my Father.


Losing my life means letting go of my right to myself and letting God have dominion over me.  Then I am truly alive to God.

Under Grace

I remember the crushing hurt of an estranged friendship.  The pain of the separation weighed heavily upon me.  After time went on, God showed me that I wasn't the only hurting party.  He revealed the ways that I had wounded my friend.  I remember the sweet relief as I asked her for forgiveness and she graciously accepted my apology and assured me that she had forgiven me long ago.  God healed our friendship with his loving grace.

In the same way, God has pardoned my sin and rebellion against Him.  Through Jesus' blood shed on the cross, my broken relationship with God is reestablished through this forgiveness of my sins.  Since the time Jesus said, "It is finished," as He gave up His Spirit to death,  my sins have been forgiven.  It is up to me, however, whether or not I accept the freedom from this sin that came with the gift of salvation.  

Not only does the gift of grace offer life eternal, but freedom from the heavy yoke of having to prove my loyalty to God by following the law.  Instead, I am free to obey God out of love for Him and a willingness to please Him.  I no longer have to try to be good enough.  Jesus already accomplished that task for me.

Jesus reassured His sheep who felt weighed down by the burden placed on their shoulders by the Jewish leaders. These hypocritical "church people" expected them to dress a certain way, speak in a particular manner, follow specific rituals and basically jump through hoops that they had held up.  People were taught that it was their actions that justified them to God; that obedience would save them from death.  The message of Jesus, however, changed everything.  

Jesus said to them, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Are you exhausted from the effort of trying to prove yourself to God and others?  Do you tire from the task of living up to standards you or others have have placed for yourself?  Are you weary of holding up the mask of "acceptable Christian living"?

Accept the complete gift of grace God has offered through faith in Jesus Christ and learn at His feet.  He is a patient teacher who will show us how He wants us to live free from the constraints of others' judgement, free from the guilt of our sin, free from the condemnation my transgressions deserve.  

Living under grace means receiving the forgiveness of my sins, but it also means living free from the burden of trying to be good enough.  My relationship with God has already been repaired. . . . now it's time to freely develop that bond. 

What makes me tick?   The temptation to live to satisfy my own desires is strong, but it doesn't have to master me.  Instead, I can live to please God and remember to fully embrace the grace God lavishes upon me.  Then I will be free to live to God, and in doing so. . .I will find what truly satisfies!


As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will fully appreciate the grace God has so freely offered.


How do I withhold grace from others because I have not truly accepted it for myself?


In what areas of my life do I struggle against temptation?