THE DAY AFTER THE DAY OF RECKONING
Did you know that you died with Christ on the cross? See yesterday’s Freedom Fighter for details! But, let it suffice that we must reckon it true.
● For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 6:10-11
In reckoning, like an accountant, we consider the funds available in an account, and record the truth in our ledger. Writing the number down does not make it true. Rather, the truth of the existence - and the spending power of - the funds is made manifest in the account by the reckoning entry of the accountant. And once that entry is made, the truth-power of those monies can be brought to bear as needed.
Gloriously, reckoning has nothing to do with feelings or perception. It does not matter that we feel weird about this death, or that we don't feel like it happened. The fact of the matter is that it did happen! All the lies of our flesh, the evil one, and culture can simply be ignored - and the truth of our old man's death can be applied in every decision we make in this new life today. (Hint: you do not have to sin. How VERY cool is that!)
So, in our new life, the old us no longer lives... we must reckon it true that that dead man neither requires (nor deserves) digging up, attention, analysis, validation, recognition, sustenance, encouragement, financing, or friends.
In reckoning this true, we begin to understand that our new life is something entirely different than it was before we met Jesus. It is a life lived now in the spirit, full of freedom, righteousness, joy and peace in and through His Spirit.
And beloved, if we could have asked for anything else, we would have asked amiss. In Him, united with Him in His presence, is a life so quiet and peaceful; so very, very real, restful, powerful, joyful and complete. In Him there is no fear, no pain, no shame, no doubt, and no want. And as G_d never changes, we begin to learn that this never has to end.
Oh, to be a poet... i simply cannot find the words…
And, as we reckon the death of this old man true, another dynamic comes into play. We are ALIVE to Him. And to be most alive in Him is to be most dead to ourselves. We now live that He might have total dominion in our existence; that His power might be made manifest in and through us... let's leave off here with the words from another brother:
Even the weakest saint can experience the power of the deity of the Son of God, when he is willing to “let go.” But any effort to “hang on” to the least bit of our own power will only diminish the life of Jesus in us. We have to keep letting go, and slowly, but surely, the great full life of God will invade us, penetrating every part. Then Jesus will have complete and effective dominion in us, and people will take notice that we have been with Him. ~ Oswald Chambers
Hey, before we leave... Here is a challenge. Purpose, by the grace of G_d, to read through the book of Romans every month or two in some purposeful fashion. The whole Word of G_d should be a regular part of our diets (at least every day), but the book of Romans acts like a massive n-body gravity pool for the Scriptures. I triple-dog dare you to try and get bored reading (or listening to) the book of Romans; especially chapters 6-8. Deferring to an expert, Martin Luther wrote:
● This Epistle is in truth the chief part of the New Testament and the purest Gospel. It would be quite proper for a Christian, not only to know it by heart word for word, but also to study it daily, for it is the soul's daily bread. It can never be read or meditated too much and too well. The more thoroughly it is treated, the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.
Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. He is a missionary serving in ministry to the poor, and a steward of the blog: blog.ps1611.org. But mostly, he is just one jaw-droppingly grateful recipient of Christ's Love, and has been set free to serve Him without limit.
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Luke 6; Psalm 89:30-52; Proverbs 6
Compass Pointers: Charles Haddon Spurgeon said meekness is being submissive to God's will and responsive to His Word. When He directs you to do something, He will tell you the manner in which to do it. If His will requires gentleness, He will help you to be tender. If it requires boldness, His power will surge through you to accomplish what He asks. Joy Strang
Anchored to the Rock: The Holy Spirit turns prayer from activity into energy. John Blanchard
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