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).

Take note that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree, so WE might die to our sins. The Lord Jesus nailed the body of sin—the cause of our sinful actions and reactions—to the cross to remove the origin of sin, so we might have the opportunity to live for Righteousness.

WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? SHALL WE GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE? BY NO MEANS! WE DIED TO SIN; HOW CAN WE LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER?
(Romans 6:1-2).

I have died to many sins.  I have died to willfulness, withdrawal, and pushing people away.  I have died to blaming, hating, and condemning others.  I have died to gossiping.  I have died to boasting.

FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM SO THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN
(Romans 6:6).

I have died to these sinful actions and reactions, because I have had no need to live in them any longer.  You see, my old Self—the abandoned Orphan Me, the shameful Despicable Me, the condemned Bad Me, and the rejected Victim Me—was crucified with Jesus, so that it might lose its power over me.

Therefore, since my condemnation turned to acceptance, I did not have to hate anymore in order to take revenge. Since my shame turned to worthiness, I did not have to gossip and boast anymore in order to gain respect from others.  Since my abandonment turned to belonging, I did not have to withdraw anymore in order to protect myself. Because the Lord Jesus took care of the old Self—the body of sin—I did not have to serve it anymore through sinful actions and reactions.

IN THE SAME WAY, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
(Romans 6:11).

Let your old Self, the body of sin, be crucified with Jesus. Then you, too will have the opportunity to live your life for Righteousness, since sinful actions and reactions will serve no purpose to you anymore.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I long to live my life for Righteousness. Therefore, I invite You to nail my old Self to the cross, so I would stop serving the body of sin through sinful actions and reactions.