THINK TOGETHER
What would you do if someone gave you a suitcase full of money?
READ TOGETHER
Yesterday we talked about how when we receive Jesus as our savior we become joined to his death on the cross. What this means is that the sinful inside part of us is dead. It has been crucified with Jesus.
If you want to be like Jesus the first step is to KNOW that you are no longer controlled by your sin. All your sins are forgiven and you don’t have to choose to do bad things anymore.
The second step to being like Jesus is to take what you know about your connection to Jesus and then think about yourself in this new way. Here’s how Paul says it in Romans chapter 6:
Romans 6:11. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul uses the word “consider.” This word means to count, or to add something up.
If gave you a suitcase full of money what would you do?
The first thing you might do is scream and shout and throw the money in the air, or roll around in it. You would KNOW that you have a whole lot of money. In the same way we KNOW that we have Jesus and all that is his.
Then you would count the money, right? You would “consider” how much money you have by counting it, and organizing it, and maybe putting it into a bank or a safe place. If you had been poor, you would stop worrying about things because now you are rich. You would start to “consider” how you will spend the money too, wouldn’t you?
In the same way we need to not only KNOW that we have Jesus, we need to CONSIDER how we will think, and live, and love now that we have Jesus. We are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s worth way more than a suitcase of money. That’s eternal life and eternal riches. Do you count yourself as rich on the inside because of Jesus? Or do you act like you have nothing and try to get everything for yourself?
Well with Jesus you never have to live that way again. With Jesus your rich on the inside. With Jesus you always have everything you need. Forgiveness. Love. And the power to love others too. Now you can count yourself as alive to God in Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus you are dead to sin and alive to God.
With Jesus you always have everything you need.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Watch this scene from the movie Annie. Talk about how Annie wanted to “earn her keep.” She was still living as though she is poor, but now she is rich in the mansion of Daddy Warbucks. She has to CONSIDER herself rich not poor.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
I’m so glad I’m united to you. Your death to sin is mine and your life to God is mine too. Help me to remember this today and every day.
Amen.
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