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New Years Fast 2012 – Sun. Jan, 29 – Day 21

Crucified with Christ: The Death of Self

 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Today is it; we have reached the end of our New Years Fast. My hope for each of you is that you found this time of commitment rewarding. I hope the encouragement I have offered each day has been challenging, helpful and inspiring. My personal expectation is to continue growing in the crucified life. I hope your expectation is the same. There is no way God can complete the work of transformation in each of us in just 21 days.

 Let’s close our fast with a reminder of what we have learned these past 3 weeks. During our first week we focused on the cross and learned “if we are serious about being “crucified with Christ” and “dying to self” the cross is mandatory; it cannot be exchanged or escaped. You must take up your cross.”

 During week two our emphasis moved to the Savior and His sacrifice. A vital truth emerged to encourage us; “we praise Him for saving us but we depend upon Him to live the ‘crucified life’.” For the past six days the emphasis has been on the practical steps necessary to dying to self. More than anything else, the key to dying to self, is understanding the condition of your heart.

 Now let’s look ahead to tomorrow and the rest of the year. Don’t rush to end your fast too quickly. Whatever your fast commitment was, consider the spiritual perceptivity you have gained during the past 21 days. Remain devotionally and prayerfully attentive to the Lord allowing the growth of your fast to continue.   

 My final encouragement to you is to close your fast with thanksgiving. Spend some serious time with the Lord thanking Him for all that He has shown you during this fast. Nothing will compel future commitment like a deep and abiding appreciation for how your Savior is working in your life.

Lord, today I place myself on the cross and die to self. Whatever that means, and whatever it takes, I commit myself to you. Change me according to your will and for your purpose. Make me less and make Christ more so that I may be all you want me to be. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”

until tomorrow,
Lamar

New Years Fast 2012 – Sat. Jan, 28 – Day 20

Crucified with Christ: The Death of Self

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 Crucifying our sinful nature requires a renewed mind to experience the transformation that God desires. Today’s lesson is critical if we are to become less so Christ may become more. A renewed mind includes having the “mind of Christ.” Look at Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 2.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There are three lessons to learn. Primarily our minds need to be renewed with the same attitude as our Savior’s. Obedient unto death was the result of His attitude, and that is the heart of dying to self. Practically, the mind of Christ affects our relationship with others. I’ve often wondered what the phrase “being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” would look like in the church. There would be no selfishness, no vain conceit and the interests of others would overcome our own preferences and pursuits.

 The final lesson has to do with God’s response to a changed attitude. Jesus did what He was supposed to and God exalted Him. The same is true for us. If we die to self God will honor, bless and reward us. Herein is another outcome of the crucified life. Rather than seeking the praise of others we live for the approval of our Lord.   

 We praise Him for saving us but we depend upon Him to live the “crucified life.”

“Lord, today I place myself on the cross and die to self. Whatever that means, and whatever it takes,I commit myself to you. Change me according to your will and for your purpose. Make me less and make Christ more so that I may be all you want me to be. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”       

until tomorrow,
Lamar

New Years Fast 2012 – Thur. Jan, 26 – Day 18

Crucified with Christ: The Death of Self

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

The crucified life is about control. Dying to self is necessary but it is not easy. Choosing to crucify our sinful nature requires that we learn how to carry our cross. As we began to see yesterday it is not just about sin. Today we learn another lesson of the crucified life. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12.

Dying to self is living for Christ and the greatest example of living for Him is accepting our role as “living sacrifices.” Our Savior died for us so that we could live for Him. In living for Jesus, God is pleased with the offering of our self. Dying to self requires a transformation of our mind. We must reject conformity to the world and make the will of God our primary focus.       

We praise Him for saving us but we depend upon Him to live the “crucified life.”

“Lord, today I place myself on the cross and die to self. Whatever that means, and whatever it takes,  I commit myself to you. Change me according to your will and for your purpose. Make me less and make Christ more so that I may be all you want me to be. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”       

until tomorrow,
Lamar