Incorruptible

Romans 6:10-11  For the death He died, He died to to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Once again, my little "31 Days of Praise" book has awakened a new understanding and revelation to my heart and mind.  I highly recommend getting this book.  It's by Ruth Myers, with her husband Warren.

So today's truth came at a particularly difficult time for me, a time when I have been battling depression, getting irritated at everything, and complaining so much, that I am sick of hearing myself!!

Before His death, Jesus was able to be tempted by sin.  He lived in a human body, "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Thankfully, for me and you, He was always strong and never fell.  After He was raised from the dead, He became incorruptible.  His humanness was no longer able to be tempted.

1 Corinthians 15:54  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; "Death is swallowed up in victory."

As long a Jesus was alive before the Crucifixtion, He was subject to the whole of the human condition; temptation, mortality, hunger, tiredness...But after He was raised, this ceased to be the case.  He was raised glorified, incorruptible and immortal.  (I don't know whether He still gets hungry LOL)

So too, this is the way I am to see myself, united with Him in death, I am  no longer bound to sin.  The power that raised Him from the dead, lives in me and lifts me from the deadness of sin.  I too, can live for God.  I need to wrap my mind around this and not ever ever ever let go!

Lately, I have been feeling really discouraged, like I am never going to change. Never going to overcome the besetting sin in my life.  But what really needs to change is my thinking, my mind.  If I think I am chained to certain behavior patterns, then of course I will never have victory over them.  It's as if I let them define me.  But if I start seeing myself as dead to those things, as those sins being buried with Christ, then there hold over me will start to diminish and eventually subside all together.  Ruth Warren puts it this way: "...sin still indwells us; the old sinful patterns and potential are still written in our minds and bodies.  But we are to see ourselves in the light of the cross and the empty tomb."  Ah ha!  I need new glasses!  My focus and my filter now changes to how do I live for God, or more accurately how do I allow God to live through me.

I realize that this may be basic for some.  And some parts of this are not altogether new for me either.  But perhaps it needed to be refreshed in our minds today.  God has a way of visiting with old truths in a new light that encourages and strengthens us to be the people He designed us to be.  I am so glad He keeps at it.  Thank You Lord for Your continual care and teaching.