Prophetic Word 2024 - Day 30: Our cross isn’t just for “looks.”

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.“

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like to wear a cross. To me, it symbolizes the freedom I have in Christ Jesus, freedom from sin, freedom from the world, freedom to do God’s will—even as one navigating this evil world.

But—the truth is —many people wear a cross, simply as they would wear any other kind of accessory, some even considering it “trendy.” Sadly, I’ve seen many performers—while doing profane things—wearing a cross. By this we understand that the wearing of a cross is sometimes just for “looks” and doesn’t represent anything about the way the wearer is living, or believing, or to whom they belong.

Understand, the cross that we carry is not “ornamental.” It is the mindset of obedience to the will of God, the altar on which we render powerless any sin that would separate us from the will of our Father.

While we are living in this world, we are to be in a constant process of dying and living. That is to say, we must die DAILY to the power of sin. Even though Christ’s work is a finished work, the working out of what He did in our thoughts, our living, in our total being, is a process.

Paul—in addressing the Romans—introduced an idea that would’ve been foreign to anyone hearing it at that time. He spoke of actually becoming a LIVING sacrifice!

We know that an animal sacrifice, by biblical definition, requires that the animal lose its life. But because of the work of Christ, the edict, the requirement, is now for us to be a living sacrifice.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not only does the apostle Paul say that it is possible and advisable, but that being a living sacrifice, is the only way we can fulfill the will of God, the only way to do that which is good and well-pleasing to Him.

Being able to live in a fallen world, yet separate and free from the influence of its evil system, is only possible because of the work of Jesus Christ.

Through His crucifixion, He paid the price for us to be free from sin. Otherwise, the debt of sin would have continued to drive us toward death.

Through His death, and our identification with His death, we can now live a new life in Him: Dead to sin; but alive to Him.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.“

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, anyone claiming to now belong to Christ, has necessarily crucified, put to death, the desires that separate one from the Lord.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.“

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Because of our identification with the crucifixion of Christ, as well as our ongoing operation as a living sacrifice, we can now be led by the Spirit of God.

In our opening scripture, we see Paul speaking to the church of Galatia, indicating that freedom from the pull of the world, was accomplished in Christ Jesus.

We identify with the work of Jesus Christ by considering ourselves as having been crucified to the world and its way of being and doing. As such, the sway of the world is no longer the boss of those who are in Christ.

Indeed, we have been set free from the law of sin and death because of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

“And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

No, my friend, the cross we carry is not just for looks. It is the place where our life is continually offered to the One Who has bought us with His own blood.

Tomorrow we will bring all this together.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim