Bears Repeating

So on Tuesday I shared Romans 6:1-14.  And wouldn't you know it God brought that Scripture up again yesterday while I was listening to a Joyce Meyer podcast on my sometimes morning jog.  My thought is God thinks this bears repeating, it's as if He's underlining this passage of Scripture for us!  Break out the highlighter markers!

Truth for today:  We were united with Christ in death, baptized into His death and burial...our old lives have been buried, sin no longer has power over us (yes, we can fight it and yes we need to firmly hold onto to this truth to overcome, as we are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit).  Verse 12 says:  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  To me that says we have a choice.  And I know that choosing sinful, sloppy living is easier than standing against our flesh.  But we are called to "use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God," (verse 13).  We live "under the freedom of God's grace" (verse 14).  Sin enslaves, grace and obedience to God brings freedom, and freedom in Jesus brings peace and joy. 

Hope for tomorrow:  "We have been united with Christ in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was," (verse 5).  We know that just as Christ was raises, we will be raised too.  Death could not hold Him, He now lives in Heaven, glorified and at the right hand of the Father. Our destination, is Heaven.  To live in glory with our Savior and Lord. 

Through our baptism into Christ we gain all these wonderful benefits and promises.  I can remember my own baptism in our Pastor's backyard pool.  I didn't really know what to expect, I had been baptized as a baby, but this was my own decision, my own choice to unite myself with Christ, so I wasn't sure if there would be anything different, I only knew I needed to obey the Spirit's leading.  It was time.  I went down in the water not knowing, but rose up filled with the most amazing joy I've ever had.  I couldn't stop the tears of joy from flowing, me and my Mom were just hugging and hugging.  It's a beautiful memory.

God really wants us to learn that we are free to say no to sin.  It's so easy to stay fixed in our bad habits, fixed in the well worn path of sin we find so comfortable to our flesh, even as our spirits cry out to turn off this road.  And most of the time the flesh can be pretty insistent and loud.  One of the things I heard Joyce say yesterday is we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  And we've been talking about a bit that in Sunday morning Bible study.  Be filled means every part of us gets filled...spirit, soul, mind, will, emotions.....all of it.  The more we submit, the more we are filled, the less we live in our sin, the more we live the new life in Christ God says is ours.  Hmmm...not a bad deal! 

Lord, You've made the way, united us with Christ in baptism.  You've given us the ability, Your Holy Spirit in us.  Help us to choose life.  Help us to choose to be instruments of righteousness to Your glory.  Thank You for all You've done, all You've given.  Lord, I know each of us desires to walk in the freedom of Your grace.  Empower us today.  Remind us often.  Give us hearts to submit.  You are so gracious to us.  You are amazing.  Thank You.  In the Name of my Savior, Jesus. 

Meditate on these verses.  And if you haven't already, start praying about being baptized.  God has a beautiful blessing for you in submitting to Him in this.