Daily Devotional
March 11, 2010
Are you in your self or in Christ Jesus?
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
Christ is our relationship with condemnation. Has it ever occurred to you what your relationship with condemnation is? Many times we live under a stream of condemning thoughts from the enemy in our mind. We relate to these thoughts by coping with them in some form or another. Sometimes we try beating them away in a fly-swatter fashion. Or we attempt to replace them with new resolutions and promises to God that we will not fail again. Or we just sink into depression. We live always feeling condemned.
God's answer to this spiritual disease is found in Romans 8:1. Not being under condemnation has nothing to do with your past record or your present performance. Nor is it dependent on your ability to cope with your thoughts. It is strictly a matter of where you are. Where are you? Are you in your self or are you in Christ Jesus? If you are in Christ Jesus, then you can shout "Hallelujah!" You can tell condemnation that you are now related to it in Christ. If Christ can be condemned, then you can be condemned. But since you are included and hidden in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 3:3), all the arrows of condemnation have to go to Him. Of course, that is unthinkable.
- Bill Freeman, The Supplied Life