Daily Power #308

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Heb. 2:18)

When I was a young pastor, I was doing one of my first baptisms. Since I idolized my pastor, Nick, I studied how he did them. I quickly noticed how Pastor Nick would often say “the old self was dead.” He was quoting Paul and describing how our sin nature no longer had power over us. We were dead to sin and alive to Christ.

So when I baptized Susan, a lady in our church in her late fifties (I was in my early twenties at the time), I thought I would do the same thing. Armed with my partial script from Pastor Nick, I stood by her in waist deep water and put my hand on her shoulder. “We celebrate the amazing news about Susan today!” I said in my best preacher’s voice. “In a moment, I’ll put her underwater and the old woman will die!”

It sounded a lot better in my mind than it came out. Everyone gasped. I didn’t know if I should apologize, correct it, or pretend it never happened. I decided to try to explain what I meant. All I know is, within a few seconds, everyone was laughing hard at what I had said, including Susan.

Even though I didn’t get it quite right on that day, we can celebrate the good news. Sin used to be our master. We were under its power. But because of the death and resurrection of Christ, sin no longer holds us. We are dead to it.

If you’re facing a temptation that seems greater than your power to resist, thank God that Christ in you is greater than any struggle you will face.

Power Lift

I’m so grateful today, Lord, that when I’m weak, your strength empowers me to resist temptation.