When my wife pointed out my very common mistake of spilling the liquids or dropping the things (unintentionally though), I started feeling as if she was nitpicking. Usually I just ignored but this one fine day, I just got irritated and got angry.
Is this how born again believers of Jesus Christ supposed to live?
Jesus taught a principal in John 12:24 that except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. We need to die to our flesh, fleshly desires and this world.
Paul though was not available to hear this teaching from Jesus Christ, yet he understood this by the power of the Holy Spirit, he lived to be an example of this and taught it further to the believers in various churches he planted.
I am crucified with Christ: I no longer live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [Colossians 3:3]
Sometimes our circumstances and feelings (emotions) do not allow us to realize this but are we supposed to live and led by our circumstances and emotions. No! Faith is choosing to live as though Bible is true, regardless of our circumstances, emotions and/or cultural trends. (p5, Life Builders-Building for eternity, India Campus Crusade for Christ) We are supposed to live by faith and led by the Holy Spirit of God and not by sight or what happens to us or what circumstances we are in (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Romans 6:11 says that we need to count (or consider in some other versions) ourselves ‘dead’ to the sin (and flesh) but ‘alive’ in Christ, feeding on His Word which would increase our faith by which a righteous man must live (Galatians 3:11b). Remember, when we were baptized, we gave a testimony of partaking in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If we were DEAD (which is what Bible says we are) how would we be living?
What a dead man would do if someone cheats him, curses him, abuses him or even slap him?
How would YOU (the dead man to flesh and world) would respond to the lusts and temptations of this world – the beautiful figures, glittering gold and money, shining cars, splendid houses and other fleshly desires/temptations?
I hope as much as a dead man does!
Lets pray –
Jesus, we acknowledge that we are dead to sin and sin does not have any hold over us; so help us to realize this fact and empower us by the power of your Holy Spirit so that we may live by faith (and not by emotions). Let our response to all temptations be as of a dead man. Amen