Discipleship Response
• Through Christ, I am baptized into death,
raised from the dead and living a new life
through – and to – the glory of the Father.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Pondering Point
In light of us being HIS in Christ, we are called and destined to live new lives. These new lives are no longer focused on or built around our sins and the desires of the flesh; our lives are to be focused on and built around glorifying God, carrying out the will of the Father. But don’t think that your flesh will take this lying down. The flesh must be dealt with daily (see Luke 9:23). Martin Luther is reputed to have said,
I tried to drown the old Adam in the waters of baptism,
but the miserable wretch can swim.
Let’s turn our hearts and minds to God on a regular basis to assess our living and adjust as befits what we learn. Here’s a chance now:
Review
Have you allowed your flesh to dominate your life in certain areas? Which ones? Go beyond a cursory look. Where are you uncomfortable with people poking around?
Repent if Necessary
Repent for living out of your flesh and forgetting (or refusing) to submit to God. Repent for holding out on God in order to do things your way.
Return as Necessary
Remember your baptism: a dying and burial of your old self with its sinful desires. Remember the result of that baptism: a new life in Jesus that is lived to the glory of God the Father. Adjust your lifestyle as appropriate, leaning on the Holy Spirit to guide you with wisdom and strength.
Prayer for the Day
Having reflected, finish with this:
Father God, please continue to shape and mold us to live according to Your will and word, not our fleshly desires. Amen.
My friends at Red Church in Melbourne, Australia, have this saying: win the day. They mean, at the beginning of each day, put your phone on the other side of your house and don't look at it until you've spent time in devotion to God. I highly recommend you adopt this practice. This, again, was a game-changer for me. A way to keep my priorities in check. More than that, to start my day sitting in love and joy and peace, not getting sucked into the hurry, anxiety, and outrage of the world.
~ J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, p. 229
Studying the Book of Hebrews
For further contemplation during Holy Week, we offer the opportunity to join us meditating on sections from the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
5:1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.