DEATH OF SELF
Fifth of nine devotions in Lenten Intense Series from Isaiah
53:1-12
Romans 6:8-11
Romans 6:6: “For we know that our old self was crucified
with Him so that the body of sin could be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves to sin.”
Ten
year old Cassie bounced a ball to eight year old Kodie at recess. (She had found her all alone before, and
asked to be her friend in Don’t Fear devotion).
“Hey Kodie, want to play four square? Why
don’t you take this ball to the game and wait for me?”
“Okay.”
Kodie said, all smiles.
Cassie
found her eight year old cousin Shakira and third grade classmate, Violet, on
the playground. “Hey, let’s play four
square!” she said.
“Nooo,”
Shakira protested. “I don’t want to play
that.”
“Oh,
but I insist.” Cassie stomped her feet.
“Let’s go!” Walking around the
building, Cassie hissed, “Why don’t you two play with Kodie?”
Shakira
defended herself, “She doesn’t like me.”
“Did
you try to be her friend?” Cassie pressed.
“But
her skin…so black!” Violet said, scrunching up her nose.
Believers
rarely acknowledge that their “self” dies the moment they accept Jesus as
Savior and Lord of their lives. This is not
accidental. It’s deliberate. Believers are destined for the cross. (Learn more in in the lesson, linked below). At the moment of salvation, our “selves” die.
Immediately,
we receive God’s Spirit and become a new creation to live as God’s kids. (John 14:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s supernatural gifts begin transforming
believers into the likeness of His Son—fit for earthly service and eternal life.
Handing
over our lives to God positions Him as Lord.
This frees us from what tethers us to the world—ties to “stuff.”
Before the recess-ending bell rang, all four
kids could be heard and seen laughing and playing together. “Let’s do this again on Monday!” Shakira
promised as they ran back to class.
Take Home Nugget
Do we still resent people solely on the
color of their skin?
What
was it about Jesus that caused people to choose Barabbas for release? Then—when asked what to do with Jesus—why did
the crowd cry out, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:20-23).
Isaiah
53:4: “Surely He took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him a man stricken by God, smitten
by him, and afflicted.”
Even God the Father approved of Jesus’
death sentence.
That’s
intense!
Jesus was the ONLY perfect sacrifice
who could pay mankind’s sin debt. Jesus
died so that you and I might join God’s family and live with Him forever.
When
will humans get that we’re in this world to be saved by God and live for Him by
serving others?
J.D. Griffith
Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Death Of Self
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