Who Do You Think You Are?
Opening Prayer
Take some time to acknowledge who Jesus is and listen for his affirmation of your identity.
Read Romans 6:8–14
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
God renamed people all throughout Scripture, such as: “You are Peter (‘rock’)” (Matt. 16:18). What would he rename you?British comedian Dawn French tells of the day of her first school disco. Self-conscious and lacking in confidence, she agonized about what to wear. Her father spoke to her. “He sat me down and told me that I was beautiful, that I was the most precious thing in his life, that he prized me above all else, and that he was proud to be my father.” Dawn had expected a lecture about not staying out too late. Instead, her father’s inspiring words had a profound effect on her for the rest of her life.
Who we think we are has a profound effect on our behavior. “So you… should consider
yourselves… dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus” (11, NLT). Paul is not advocating mental gymnastics: this is the reality of what God has done and who we are in Christ, based on the objective facts of what he has done. Paul is calling Christians to become what they are.
Apply
Sin can operate in our lives only with our permission. It’s time to show sin who’s boss.
You’ve been set free; walk out your freedom!
Closing prayer
Father, I claim my freedom from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit! Teach me to daily walk in the freedom given by Christ.
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