SO THE SOLDIERS CUT THE ROPES THAT HELD THE LIFEBOAT AND LET IT FALL AWAY
(Acts 27:32).

I bless you today to consider cutting the ropes that are holding your lifeboat of sinful defense mechanisms afloat…and let it fall away.

Cut the ropes that are keeping your sinful Self alive.  Know that Self loves to sulk, spending time in dejection and hopelessness when things don’t go its way.  Self is not self-controlled, but often surrenders to uncontrolled anger and rage when it is provoked.  Self reacts to its deceitful desires with patterns of over-indulgence, mind-reading, and forsaking its tasks whenever it is aroused. Self has gone astray, heeding the lies of the father-of-lies.

HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS
(1 Peter 2:24-25).

Do not keep your sinful Self with its deceitful desires alive, but return to the Overseer of your soul.  The Lord Jesus bore your sins on the cross, so you might die to Self’s sinful defense mechanisms, and allow the Righteousness of Jesus to live through you.

THEREFORE, RID YOURSELVES OF ALL MALICE AND ALL DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, AND SLANDER OF EVERY KIND. LIKE NEWBORN BABIES, CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK, SO THAT BY IT YOU MAY GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION, NOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD
(1 Peter 2:1-3).

Therefore, allow the Lord Jesus to rid you of your sinful Self, who is full of malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that your Perfect Father has sent the Lord Jesus to become your Righteousness in place of your Self.

What does your sinful Self look like? Which sinful defense mechanisms are keeping your sinful Self alive?

What will it take for you to cut the ropes—the sinful defense mechanisms —that are keeping your sinful Self alive? The Lord Jesus is waiting to give His Life of Righteousness to you in the place of Self. When will you accept His offer?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring me to the place where I will cut the ropes that are keeping my sinful Self alive. I long for You to fully live in my heart, in the place of my Self, so that I may grow up in my salvation.