The advance course in fear is this last thing. All I can do is to throw it out to you, and ask you and others to teach me over time.
"I am crucified with Christ, nonetheless I live." I died. There's nothing to lose.
Are you going to take away my life? Well, I've already died! There's nothing you can do to me! You, as an enemy, there is nothing you can do, nothing you can say, because I've already died.
When my worries and fears are kicking up big, the apostle Paul leads me into the advanced course. What does it mean to have been crucified with Christ? It means that there's absolutely nothing to lose. You can't hurt a dead man who's alive. There's nothing you can do to such a person.
So, when you're afraid, die. Die to the opinions of other people. Die to wealth. Die to possessions. Die to reputation. Die to your demand to be loved.
Know this freedom of being able to die with Christ and being able to live with him.
Ed Welch Issues in Biblical Counselling talk 16
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3 comments:
It is just exquisite. Die to the opinions of other people. Die to wealth. Die to reputation. Die to your demand to be loved. Oh, that I would really believe that there is nothing to lose!!
Thanks so much for this reminder.
Jo
Really glad to have read this today. Thanks.
Reminds me of the lyrics to Cinnamon's great song,"Where's your victory?" (inspired by 1 Cor 15, addressed to Death):
"You can try with all of your might
But my God has won this fight
You are your own demise
Can't you hear the cries
It is finished, it is finished...
So you think you can just squash this life?
Well I have been born twice
Go figure it out, your maths is in doubt
I'm not finished, i'm not finished...
[he died that I might life]
So tell me where's your victory?
Cause you've got nothing on me
Jesus was crucified, he rose and now death has died
You are finished, you are finished...
So tell me, where is your sting?
Cause he has paid for everything
He died for all just once, and now here comes the crunch
You are finished, you are finished...
[Jesus was crucified, rose and now death has died / he died that I might live]
So when I'm taken from this earth
Don't forget i'll have new birth
You're redundant, your job is done
A better life has begun
It's just started, it's just started..."
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