Breathing With Eternal Purpose
Romans 6:4
“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.”
When was the last time you thought about the breaths you were taking? Most of the time we are just breathing, no thoughts about it. Breathing is something our bodies learn to do immediately after birth, so, without any medical conditions or physical exhaustion, it’s not something we actively think about controlling. A quick google search told me the average person takes 22,000 breaths per day. Now what if I told you that you owed every one of those breaths to someone else?
In Romans 6 we are reminded of the weight of Christ’s sacrifice for us. Romans 5 tells us that just as through one man (Adam) sin and death through sin entered the world for all men, much more has the free gift of grace from God through Christ abounded for many. Romans 6 tells us our old selves were crucified with Christ and we are set free from sin! Not only have we died to sin through His sacrifice, but we are alive to God! Jesus Christ rose from the dead, so the promise was not void and through that we are granted newness of life right here and now.
Our price has been paid by the righteous Son of God so we might not fear sin and death. The truth of this grace ought to stir us to live our lives fearing God alone and living boldly in the life we have been granted. He is worthy of every breath, all 22,000 each day. Living every moment of each day to glorify God is something only Christ could perfectly accomplish, but we are capable of waking up and doing our best each day. What might this look like? Romans 12 lists the marks of a true Christian as a straightforward guideline for this kind of living. Genuine love, holding fast to what is good, patience in tribulation, constant prayer, hospitality, overcoming evil with good, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep are great places to start.
I went on a trip with a group of friends not too long ago and each time we ate out one of my friends would be sure to ask the waiter or waitress if there was any way we could be praying for them as we prepared to pray for our meal. I had never considered doing this nor had I ever seen anyone do that. It was a beautiful picture of striving to live every moment in the newness of life. It was a simple way to serve the lord, contribute to the needs of the saints, and exhibit boldness.
My favorite hymn is In Christ Alone by Kieth and Kristyn Getty, one most of us are familiar with. The final verse begins with, “No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.” Let that power rest upon you in all your weaknesses, living with no guilt in life or fear in death!
In what ways can we do better to live like each moment and each breath is a free gift of grace? “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.” Romans 6:4.