On living as Christ

Read: Romans 6

So, how is the average Christian supposed to live? This is a vital question to our walk with Christ yet not many are living up to it's call. If there is great life and great power to be had in living this Christian life why are so many NOT living it? I will answer your question with a story.

The other day I was working with my step-dad doing some maintenance work. There was another guy working with us who - how should I say - didn't think much about GOD. As I was helping my step-dad the guy kept saying the "gd" word. It bothered me greatly. I kept feeling GODs Spirit telling me to say something to the guy. Nothing bad, no accusing him just to say "don't say that". Then I felt something inside of me say "NO!" Excuse after vain excuse flooded my mind. During the middle of this spirit-flesh battle a thought came to mind and it went a little like this: "you must die daily". I meditated on that and quickly agreed. A few minutes later the opportunity came to say something and - without thinking about it- I kindly asked him not to say it around me.

What stops us before we even start to walk?

Why is it that when we ought to stand up for JESUS we find ourselves giving into....ourselves? The answer is simple, pride. Pride is what says, "I'M not going to tell this guy about JESUS because he might think I'M CRAZY." Pride is what stops us before we even start. I find pride is always lurking in the shadows ready to reveal itself. Pride is what made satan from an angel of light into an angel of darkness. Pride can turn the best things bad and the bad things even worse.

But all (or at least most) of you know this already. Most of us have experienced our own pride and have cried out in unison with Paul, "O, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) Knowing that we have a most perverse pride that says, "I'M more important than I AM", what are we to do? Lets see!

Now, what is the way to life?

I am going to reveal to you an important secret. We as Christians cannot lose this secret or we will lose what it means to "live as Christ". The secret is this: In order to live a Christian life you must die a carnal death!

What I mean is that we are to die daily to our own will. If the Word of GOD says we are to do die we are to die! And with joy! Why? Because "if we die with Christ we believe we shall also live with HIM". (Romans 6:8) People have lost the blessedness of the carnal death. They are trying to live a spiritual life in the natural when that cannot be.

In the story I gave I told you that I did not want to step up for Christ because of myself. My pride. Me, me, me! However, I realized in that moment the most important lesson (and essential) is that I must die to myself so I can live for HIM. If JESUS is LORD of your life then what HE tells you to do you should do.
You are told to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

If GODs Spirit is pressing you to talk to that person about Christ do it! You don't know if today is the day someone is supposed to receive salvation. You also don't know if today is the day they are going to pass away. Don't let YOU get in the way of JESUS!

What's the challenge?

I ask you that read this to begin to die slowly. Begin to ask GOD what HE wants you to do. Begin to read the Scriptures and see what GOD says about certain things.

I CHALLENGE you to begin sharing the gospel with others wherever you are. If you step up then GOD will step in and show you awesome things! I'm not only speaking to you but to myself as well. We need not think about what others are going to say we are to unconditionally represent JESUS. We are not to be men-pleasers "for if I still pleased men I would not be a bond servant of CHRIST." (Galatians 1:10)

GOD bless!!!