Romans 6:8–14 (ESV) —
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
NOTE: We know we have a future resurrection and a new body. But for now, the truths that we died to sin and are alive to Christ still hold. The overriding message is that we can live the Christian life now. The practical advice is to present ourselves to God as instruments for righteousness. In my mind, this is what we used to call, a Lordship decision. Who is going to rule your life, God or you flesh? How do you make decisions, God's word or what you feel? The best measure of a person's priorities is the things that are never sacrificed, that always are accomplished, that we always find time to do. Our stated priorities, the ones we espouse, are not really priorities if we never get around to them. That calls for some real soul searching. Who commands my life? Who do I present myself for service?
PONDER:
- What do I say are my top priorities in life?
- How well do I accomplish my top priorities?
PRAYER: As I begin this new chapter of grandchildren care, it is also a time of reevaluation. This phase of life is not how I envisioned it, but it is a time of serving -- a time to put other's needs ahead of my own. I'm not missing out on anything, my true retirement home is in heaven. If I have to wait, I will.
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