Perhaps you’ve heard a story of an ex-convict going back to jail, or repeating the same mistakes and getting into the same troubles as before. The Bible calls it ‘a dog returning to its vomit’ (Proverbs 26:11). Jesus said that once an impure spirit comes out of a person, the evil spirit could come back and bring 7 other spirits that are more wicked than the first one, so that the condition of the person is worse than the previous one (Luke 11:24-26).

Because we received the gift of salvation free of charge, we tend to forget that it cost Jesus His own life. Because we no longer live under the law but under grace, we tend to abuse this grace and choose a life of lawlessness. But this ought not to be so. Paul reminded the Roman believers of this in one of his letters: “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1-4). Grace not only frees us from our past sinful life, it also empowers and equips us to honor Christ in our new God-given life ! “What does this new life look like ?” I hear you asking. Here’s what the Bible says :  

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9). “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

We have been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light to represent Him in this world. Therefore, we should be different from the people of the world in how we think, speak, and act, in every aspect of our lives. We are called to carry our cross as Jesus did for us. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime decision, but a continuous decision to die to our own self and live as followers of Christ each day. Today and henceforth, pray to be continuously renewed and transformed into the image of Jesus day after day (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that it is no longer you who live, but Christ living in You (Galatians 2:20).