Your Identity in Christ
• I am the fruit of Jesus’ life-time investment in the tree of the cross; I look to reproduce such love and mercy as I am rooted and established in Him.
Jesus bore fruit on the tree of the cross (Galatians 3:13) -- or maybe it's better said through death on a tree, becoming the first-fruits from the dead.
Paradoxically Hebrews 5:7 says that He would be saved from death.
Some may contend one is saved from death by escaping it. But that wasn't true for Jesus – and it's not true for us either. Rather, we are saved from death by coming back from it, not avoiding it.
Jesus didn't avoid death, but came back from it, swallowing it up in victory, as Apostle Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 15:54.
1 Corinthians 15:54
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Journal Prompt: How do you
reproduce the love and mercy
shown by Jesus? How would
show it?
Prayer Prompt
Spirit of God, I look to be led by You and bear Your fruit for the honor of my Heavenly Father. Give me great discernment to know how to invest myself, what to root myself into in order to produce the “fruit of righteousness” that You describe in Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 27:7-14
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
Are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point
Have you thought about what it would be like if God were your enemy rather than helper? Hmm.