“Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.” -‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭14‬ msg

We must not give sin a vote. We must not give value to enmity. Oh Lord, help us to see the under current of self; the tie between self and Sin. Self-pity drawing us into hate and quarrels, taking the bait of injustices, both personal and social, leading our eyes away from you, causing division and hate to flourish. Self-love causing the same outcome on the other side, constantly elevating ourselves above others and keeping our eyes on ‘me’ instead of You… getting lost in ourselves only leads us to more quarrels caused by always having to have our own way… Where do you think all these appalling wars come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves, You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. -James 4:1-2 Help us to believe – truly believe – that if we keep our eyes fully on You, You are the fulfillment of all things. You are Life. You are Who/Why we are created… You are All we will ever Need and You will make All things Right and Good. You will redeem Your Creation. You will show us what Freedom really means.

Genesis 1:31 God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!