The old me’s dead and gone

Laura Digan December 02, 2019 0 0

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Romans 6: 1-11 (NRSVA)

1 What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I have recently discovered the Netflix series ‘The Crown’. It wasn’t something that I fancied before but now I’m hooked! One episode finishes and then I’m straight onto the next. The series has given me a greater appreciation for Her Majesty the Queen. I have always thought the Queen was a faithful servant to this country, but I hadn’t quite appreciated the depth of her sense of duty, nor the personal sacrifices she has had to make to fulfil her duty. One scene that touched me deeply was when the Queen was advised to take time to mourn for Elizabeth Windsor, an acknowledgement that ‘the crown’ striped her of her individuality, making her a new person.

I think this moment connected so deeply with me as this year, as part of my training for Ministry, I have been reflecting on how my life has been transformed by Christ. Through his Grace I have been radically transformed.

I used to be a person who lived for the moment and lived large! I lived extravagantly getting myself into debt in the process. I worked hard but I also partied harder. I remember a few days after a party a woman telling me that she had never seen anyone enjoy themselves as much as I did. But do you know what, that was an illusion. For I felt empty inside. There was a void that nothing nor no one could fill. But Jesus did. When I let him fully into my life, he filled me with his love, changing me, transforming me. So much so that I now hardly recognise that sad, lonely girl I used to be. In the words of the T.I and Justine Timberlake song, ‘the old me’s dead and gone.’

And I’m so thankful. And for the rest of my life I’m going to try my best to share that life transforming love

PRAYER:

Father God, 

Thank you, thank you, thank you
For the miracle of your son Jesus.

Thank you that his love transforms death into life
Brokenness to wholeness
Sadness to joy

Thank you that nothing and no one is beyond his power.