Every Day

Every day is a new beginning. Pastor Steven uses an illustration of the shot clock in the NBA. If the offensive team gets the rebound after a shot, they get a new 24 or a new shot clock. Like a new 24 shot clock, every day we get a new 24. Our certain circumstances might not change, but we get a new day, a new attitude to look at our obstacles. You have limitless possibilities in your life when Christ is at the center.

Sin is something that we all struggle with on a daily basis. It is something that we must become more aware of in order to honor God better through our words and actions. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31 that he must die every day to his sin. In Romans 6:11 he says we must count ourselves as dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Again in Romans 13:14 he says clothe yourselves in Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.

How do we do this? How do I clothe myself in Christ? How do I die every day?

Fortunately, it's a lot easier than we as Christians make it out to be. It's about reading the Word more but not just reading it...memorizing it. Understanding the importance of every word written and applying it to your daily life. I must not think about how to gain pleasures in this world that do not honor God, and when temptation comes, remember Romans 13:14. It is easy to refuse sin when you can quote Scripture that deals with that specific temptation. That is why it is important to know what the Bible says. My man Reggi puts it this way, "If Christianity were difficult, it would be difficult; but because it is impossible, it's easy." Think about it...a lot of things do not make sense and we make loving people and serving them a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Christ took all our sin upon Himself on the Cross and He calls us to love Him with all our hearts...and then to love others, serving them, and putting their needs before your own. The cross is the perfect example of selflessness. It is impossible to do anything on our own strength, but with God we are capable of doing the impossible (Philippians 4:13). The question is...are you willing to give up your own 'rights' and desires for God?

The truth is, it's a battle...a daily battle. A battle that starts from the minute you wake. The good thing is you have a choice, regardless of your circumstances. You can choose to be joyful or you can choose to be in a bad mood. Happiness is based off circumstances. Joyfulness is based off your identity in Christ.  It is difficult to always make the right choices but it starts in your heart. It's a renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2) and leading by example. It's about removing people in your life that always bring you down. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Bad company corrupts good character." You will always fall to the mercies of your surroundings unless you plant your foot in Christ and remove the stumbling blocks. Clayton King says it perfectly, "We find life by losing our rights, our cravings, our wants, and our obsessions. We find meaning and purpose when we live for something bigger and greater than us...We have gained life from His death, and now we participate daily in living out that life by continually dying to all things that would exalt self and sin and pride. Dying to live is not trendy, sexy, or cool. But it's the only way to gain life, the only way to know Jesus, the only way to be free from the trap of living for yourself and dying hopeless." What is it today that is keeping you from dying to yourself and sin?