Thursday, June 18, 2026

Scripture

“If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” Romans 6:8

Reflections

Death isn’t something we like to think about, but it can also be seen as the gateway to life.  If Jesus had never died, there would never have been a resurrection.  We would never know the hope of life eternal.

When it comes to our lives in Christ, death precedes life.  When we take Jesus seriously and follow in his ways, we put to death our self-serving desires.  We let go of the ways of this world that bring about nothing good.  The journey begins in baptism when our old self is drowned.  We come out of the water as a new creation.  Everything is new.

But the evil one tries to persuade us that we can have our cake and eat it too.  He wants us to think we can follow his ways as well as God’s.  He wants us to think that by doing whatever we want, we are actually making the better decision.  Don’t believe it.  It’s a lie.  The next thing you know you’ll be looking back with regret.  God’s the only one who truly has our best interests in mind.

At first glimpse, it’s hard to get excited about the idea of dying.  But when it comes to Jesus, we die to everything that is bad to receive all that is good.  It begins in baptism.  It is renewed every day when we turn to him.  It is realized in its fullest when we pass from this life into God’s glorious resurrection.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the good life I have come to know in Christ Jesus.  I let go of my own agenda this day in order to claim the better life in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Romans 6:1b-11