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In 2003, I had the honor of attending the Cornerstone Music Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. I was traversing the different stages with my bandmates, looking for an unofficial stage for to perform our act. We met many key players in the Christian music scene by sharing our music.

After playing on one of the gas-powered “generator stages,” we started talking to a man that revealed to us that he was the drummer in a band called Dogwood. Being long-time fans of Dogwood, we gushed like fan-boys in our conversation and were blown away that he enjoyed our music.

I tell this story to talk about a Dogwood song that has stuck in my mind for all these years because it is based on Romans 8:37, which states that “we are more than conquerers” through Jesus Christ who loved us. I challenge you to read the whole chapter of Romans 8 to put this verse into perspective.

What shall separate us from Christ?

The Bible’s answer is “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37

Romans 6:11-13 describes how we reckon ourselves as dead to sin and alive to Christ, and we choose to not let sin “reign” in our mortal bodies or have its way with us. We do not offer ourselves as instruments of evil, but offer ourselves as those who have been brought to life from death; every part of us given to God as an instrument of righteousness.

Today, I reinstall the manifestation of Romans 6:11 to die to my old self and become alive in Christ Jesus. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3

Galatians 2:20 states “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Romans 8:13 – “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Through following a spirit-led life and not following sin, we find our true spiritual lives.

Romans 12:1 states that we should “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We live as a living sacrifice in humble service before the Lord; therefore, similarly, I beseech you, brethren.

Daily Reading: 

II Corinthians 4:13-18

Matthew 24: 27-33

Matthew 42-51

Themes:

The faithful servant, living sacrifice, death to sin, death to self, life in the spirit.

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In the parable of the lost son in St. Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells a story of a son that falls from the grace of his family. The son wishes to fall before his Father and beg for forgiveness and mercy. The son begs to be taken as a servant but the Father celebrates his return, clothes him, and treats him as if he has come back from death.

We thank God for sending us the Lord Jesus Christ and his ministries to the world to die for our sins. May we all be blessed on this day. May your prodigal children return home and may you celebrate their resurrection. In Christ Jesus’ name, Amen.