My cell phone rang in the middle of work hours. At the other end of the line, a distraught and breathless friend spoke quickly about what had happened to her in the past few minutes that had completely outraged her. A serious argument with a close and dear family member, and her heart broke. She said, “How could you talk to me like that?” And besides saying all those harsh and cutting words to me, there was a harsh and accusing tone of voice. And, not to mention the inappropriate timing, couldn’t you have waited to discuss this touchy subject when we returned from vacation? When there was no one to criticize and take care of our affairs. Everything she told me had enormous personal content, she was diminished by the words of this father, she felt attacked by his tone of voice and she was even ashamed to be in the presence of other people. “What the hell?” She told me: “I’m so mad!” What lack of sensitivity to tell me like that. It doesn’t even seem to matter, I’m outraged. And so, for a few minutes, he spoke breathlessly, tirelessly counting his outrage, his shame, his rage, his rage, his feelings, her, her, her, me, me, me.
In a controlled tone, did I try to tell you to calm down?”Take a deep breath, ” I said, “These things happen in all families; Are our relationships corrupted by sin?I kept my voice calm and soft, as if that could only control my friend’s agitation. I have spoken of the gospel, of what it teaches us in times of crisis, but it has remained exalted, indignant. After a few minutes of fighting for time to speak, I said in a firm and audible tone. tone: “Dude, are you dead today?”
DID YOU DIE TODAY?
If we cannot make the gospel a living tool to use in our daily lives, it is because the gospel is not yet part of us. If we read the scriptures and know the true God, we should be able to use it in our own lives what we have learned from the gospel. Yes, yes, I know, we are subject every day to the attack of our fallen and sinful old nature, we are sensitive to anger, outrage, groans, discord and so many other storms of our flesh.
Therefore, we are not discouraged; on the contrary, even if our outside man is corrupt, our inner man is renewed day by day. 2 Cor 4:16
We look defeated, but we don’t! We are not defeated when, day after day, (timely words!) We rejuvenate ourselves spiritually with the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, which corrects, encourages us, exhorts us, directs us, and educates us. This Christ, who brought us out of the world of darkness in his wonderful light, is tireless in allowing us through his Holy Spirit to die with perseverance and clothe Christ and his victory; However, we know that two bodies do not inhabit the same space simultaneously, and we do not need to know the physical laws to know it, because experience teaches us in this process. We must get rid of the dirty old man to fill us with the new, clean man. I don’t know how to do it yet, but how?How can I do that?
First, it is God’s grace in our lives. God doesn’t send us anything we can’t do. We make ourselves available and strive, and He makes it in us.
He always carries the death of Jesus in his body, so that his life may also manifest in our bodies, because we who live, are always condemned to death by Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also manifest himself in our mortal. meat 2 Cor 4: 10-11
After we become new creatures, we need new clothes, because the old ones no longer serve us, after all, we leave behind what we no longer need.
Therefore, if you have risen with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ lives, sitting at the right hand of God. Think of the things above, not the things here on earth; because you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Cl 3: 1-3
We must realize how our minds, the place where our thoughts occur, must be aligned with the spirit of Christ, because it is thoughts that articulate our emotions and bring our bodies into action (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4: 23)
In practice, this means: I am angry with that person now, but I can get rid of this thought when I think of the things of Christ. So now it’s time to take out of your arsenal that verse you memorized for emergency times (and you did, right?). The Word of God has the power to crush our thoughts, originating in fallen nature, and renew ourselves. It’s simple. We are talking here about replacing the thoughts, emotions, and actions that come from our flesh with those that come from the Spirit; yes, this old struggle between flesh and spirit.
I say, however: walk according to the Spirit and you will never satisfy the desires of the flesh. For the flesh militates against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, for they oppose one other; so you don’t do what you want (Galatians 5:16-17)
I don’t want to dwell on that, but our brother Paul, the Apostle, has made long lists of “substitutions” and they all refer to relationships. Did Paul want to draw our attention to the most delicate and complex area of our lives??
Sheep, dying in Christ is an internal decision and a disposition we earn for free (Ephesians 2:8-9). This comes through faith, which comes from listening to and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This movement of God’s Word in us is what washes us, regenerates us, gives us a new life for the old man to empty himself.
My prayer is that we may find ourselves hidden in Christ on the day of his return.
So, for me, living is Christ and dying is a gain
Christ, all honor and glory to him, today and forever.
For curious sheep:
Fighting Disbelief, by John Piper, Faithful Editor
Do you know these sins that we don’t even admit often? Piper shows us its root and origin, connects your nose and dives!
Untouchable Sins, by Jerry Bridges, Vida Nova Editor
Tired of fighting stubborn sins nailed to your soul?Come and learn from the wisdom of Bridges the path of grace. How the Holy Ghost has the power to overcome our sins. Bitter medicine always leads to healing, my grandmother said. Pray and go.
Gospel for Real Life, by Jerry Bridges, Loyal Editor
Here, Jerry Bridges reminds us how important it is to go to the gospel every day. Sweet and gentle, the Lord Jesus guides us relentlessly.