Your calling
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1 Peter 2:21
So here it is . . . your calling. What you are called to and why you are here in this world and on this planet. To follow the example of Jesus. The example of submitting to God who judges righteously or makes everything we submit to Him right. We, having died to sin, now we live for righteousness. We were sheep going astray, but now we have been brought back to our Shepherd, Christ Jesus.
The focus in this passage is verse 24 that says we have died to sin. What exactly does that mean, dying to sin? The scripture says we are to die to self. Romans 8:12 & 13 says, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Dying to self means I give up all my rights and desires and surrender them to my Lord Christ Jesus. So, to die to sin means sin no longer exist to me. In a sense, I am turning away from and shunning it. I close the door to sin and it no longer has any place in my life. I treat it like the curse that it is and don’t let even the resemblance of sin come near me. I do this by submitting every part of my life to my Lord Jesus. This is not to say that I will never sin again. There may be a day or even more than one day, that I am weak and allow myself to let sin in, but I do not stay there. I quickly recognize that sin has come alive and I need to die to it/turn away from it and run to my Father in repentance. 1 John 1:9 tells us exactly what we need to do in our weak times, it is to run to God. It says, “ if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse/wash us from all unrighteousness/sin. Glory to God, He makes us clean!!
Today I want to encourage you to be dead to sin. Don’t let sin have control of your body. Instead, submit your life to the LORD’s service. The answer is found in Romans 6:12 & 13 – Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Daily present yourself to God as His instrument of righteousness. The best time is first thing each day. Before you do anything, go before you loving Heavenly Father with a presentation of your body for His service and His agenda. Then watch how your life unfolds in a work of art that touches the lives of all those around you.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:21 – 25
The Daily Dose 