We Had the Funeral - The Body Kept Getting Up!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me - Gal 2:20

"There's nothing wrong with you that a good funeral won't solve," I said to the woman. "I'll even send you flowers!" She smiled in response. She knew exactly what I meant before I tried to explain it. Of course, I was speaking figuratively to a personal friend who was stressing out about an issue in her life.

Her problem was the same problem most of us have - too much of "me" and not enough of Jesus and the cross. Coming to an end of self can solve many of the daily problems in life we face. This “natural” fruit of the Lordship of Jesus allows Him to work in us to glorify God.

Jesus was meant to take over. In part I believe this is what David meant in the Psalms when he said: "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" - Ps 116:15.

The apostle Paul recognized the need for a funeral too when he penned these words: "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? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" - Rom 6:1-4.

Whenever we stress over a matter, get angry over a daily circumstance, or seek to have our own way - it is a sign there is still life in the grave. It is a sign, that though we came to the alter area of the cross and gave our life to Jesus, we have later on, gone back to that same place, and dragged the body away!

The Word of God, the Bible says, my life is hid with Christ. It’s buried with him in baptism, a sign that I have decided to live a life that pleases God. Sometime, and now is as good a time as any, I need to fill in that burial plot with dirt and smother the life out of my lack of faith, lack of focus on God and His provision so that Christ may live freely, unhindered by the guy who used to live here in my body.

Send yourself some flowers today. Have a good funeral. The grass will be greener on the other side of this plot. God promises it!

I remain…

InHISgrip,
~J~