*[[1Co 15:30-31/WMTH-JM]]* Why also do we Apostles expose
ourselves to danger every hour? I protest, brethren, as surely as I glory over
you –which I may justly do in the Messiah Jesus our Lord– that I die day by
day.
Growing up, I heard many preachers quote this scripture and
say, "you ought to die to self daily like Paul or else you will miss the
rapture or go to hell." But you see, this is what happens when you take a
verse out of its context to prove a preconcieved idea.
When Christ died on the cross, our old sinful nature or 'old
self' died with Him. Then we arose with a new nature - the very nature of God.
So we don't need to die to self any more.
From the context, Paul was saying something to this effect,
*''If there is no resurrection of the dead, then why do I put myself in harm's
way to evangelize? I have faced tyrants, been in ship wreck, stoned and left
for dead, starved, all bcos I wanted the nations to hear the gospel. I face
death everyday just for the sake of the gospel."*
So Beloved, instead of thinking about how you can 'murder'
your old self daily, let us continually pray for the brethren who are risking
their lives in nations where they are forbidden to share the gospel. Some have
been executed and others have been imprisoned. For the sake of the gospel, they
*die daily*. Pray for all missionaries in the field and their families too.
Shalom!!!
LIVE_LOVE_SHINE
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