“By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now 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 For 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. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” ~ Romans 6:2-12~
Have you ever had one of those moments where you find yourself encouraging someone about the bible then later you realize that the encouragement or advice was meant for you as well? The best part is when that friend comes back and repeats that same advice saying “Well maybe God is saying this or that.” Nice work God! For speaking words of hope through my own mouth. God speaks in mysterious ways but lately I have been struggling with this idea that "it is easier said than done."
I am someone who wants to say yes to everything and always be there to help or support my friends especially through prayer. So, before I know it the day is over and I am burnt out. I have a friend who was grieving over the loss of a loved one, and another friend who was feeling stressed by schoolwork and not having enough time to complete everything, meanwhile there is a situation affecting one of the homes where my students live. So, I put my own pain aside and tried to step in and offer comfort and support to all the needs surrounding me. I did not feel like I could go to my friends about what was troubling me because they were going through much more and I should not bother them with the little things in life.
The more I thought about it the more I realized I was wrong, I had just told someone don’t do this alone God gives us brothers and sisters in Christ to build each other up. I had also come to this verse saying that...we are no longer enslaved by sin. I ended up sharing that verse with a friend, in need of encouragement. After that I had my own aha moment, so this was what God has been trying to speak to me lately. He has been trying to remind me of the hope I have and who has taken on the biggest burden for me (much bigger than anything I have gone through before). Jesus is the one to go to when I feel alone. My friends support is great but it is nothing compared to Jesus setting me free from sin. Verse 14 says “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." God is always giving us a clean slate. Let us be thankful and rejoice always for what the Lord has done for me, for us. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~