Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
Romans 6:1-11
 
Ninni Jacob
Carmel MTC, Boston, MA
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

When we were growing up, we were taught that if we are a Christian, we should not do certain things, like seeing movies, playing cards, dancing, drinking, smoking, etc.  As we grow older not only in age but in Christianity and faith in God, we may resolve to stay away from anything that would displease our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Do we have a changed heart? Do we exhibit the fruit of the spirit?  The scripture says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)
Augustine of Hippo (534 -440) is quoted to have said “Love God and do what you will.” If our love of God is real and profound, then obedience and faithfulness, right thinking and right actions will flow irresistibly from that love.
Recently I read a devotional by Max Lucado that speaks to this. He writes: ‘'Some years ago I underwent a heart procedure. My heartbeat had the regularity of a telegraph operator sending Morse code. The cardiologist inserted two cables in my heart, one was a camera, the other was an ablation tool. The “ablate” is to burn. Yes, burn, cauterize, singe, brand. And to use my doctor’s coinage, it would destroy the “misbehaving” parts of my heart. I tried to be witty. “As long as you’re in there, could you also take your little blowtorch to some of my greed, selfishness, and guilt?” He smiled, “Sorry, that’s out of my pay grade. Indeed it was, but it is not out of God’s. He is in the business of changing hearts. We’d be wrong to think it happens overnight. But we’d be equally wrong to assume change never happens at all. “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared, the apostle Paul wrote” (Titus 2:11). And it has appeared to change our lives.’

PRAYER

Loving God, give us a heart like the heart of Jesus, a heart that is alive and full of compassion so that we can live the way Jesus lived, and follow Him by serving others. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). 
 

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