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Next
to our house is a tree that was struck by lightning a number of years ago. Close
examination of this tree shows that it is in the process of dying. There is very
little that can be done for it because the rot has progressed to the middle of
the tree. We would very much like to save the tree, but we're afraid it is hopeless.
According to experts, if someone had treated the tree soon after the
lightning, it probably would have made it longer. It is hard for me, but I must
consider that the tree is not only dying but very possibly dangerous. I don't
want to cut it down but eventually I will have no choice.
Many Christians have the dead wood of sin in their lives, but don't
really want to cut it out. The apostle Paul knew that we would struggle with sin
because he did too (see Romans
7:14-16). He wrote to the Colossian church instructing them to consider themselves
"dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed." Dead things have
no power!
To deal with sin as dead in our lives means that we must learn
to act on what we know is true no matter how we feel. It is true that because
Jesus died on the Cross, we have won the victory in Christ. Now we must believe
what we know is true, claiming the victory! In Christ you are dead to sin. Instead
of letting sin resurrect in your life, think of it as dead, and yourself alive
to God in Christ.
All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
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~ Dead
Wood
