RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
04-Feb-2019,
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, D.D
THEME : EMBRACE THE PICTURE OF THE NEW YOU.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Did you know that as one who’s born again, it’s wrong for you to keep seeing yourself as “a sinner?” Many live with this mentality and it reveals why they’re ineffective in their Christian walk. Now that you’re born again, your life is new and divine; therefore, embrace the picture of the new you. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; as Jesus is, so are you in this world.
Have a greater consciousness of your new life in Christ. That life gives you the power to live above sin. You may ask, “If this is true, why do I still do wrong things and think wrong thoughts?” It’s because you haven’t fully yielded and subjected yourself to the dominion of the Word, to live in, and by the Word.
It reminds of the account in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, part of which we read as our theme verse. The Apostle Paul rebuked some of the Christians in Corinth because their way of life didn’t reflect the new nature of righteousness they had received. Yet, he didn’t call them “sinners.” He writes, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”(1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Notice he didn’t say, “And such are some of you…”; rather, he says, “…and such were some of you,” because now that you’re in Christ, you’ve been cleansed of all unrighteousness. You’ve been washed; separated from sin unto God, and declared righteous, in the Name of the Lord, and by the Spirit of our God!
Recognise your new identity; see the picture of the new you and live accordingly. Study and meditate on the Word; it shows your real glory; it reveals your true personality. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
CONFESSION
I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, I live with boldness without any sense of fear, guilt or condemnation, being confident in the Lord who is my righteousness, and in His righteousness, justifies the ungodly. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 2:1-2
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Matthew 24:36-51 & Exodus 28
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Matthew 12:22-30 & Genesis 35