all have died... including you...

This morning's Bonhoeffer...

In the incarnation, God's becoming human, we know the love of God for his creation; in the crucifixion we know the judgment of God on all flesh; in the resurrection we know the will of God for a new world.

---Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I Want to Live These Days with You

Crucifixion... God's judgment on all flesh...

...we have concluded this:

that one has died for all, therefore all have died...

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV

And I see it... all flesh is dead... therefore to operate out of our flesh... makes the way for corruption... decay... because that's what dead flesh does... disintegrates... in a very foul way...

For the one who sows to his own flesh

will from the flesh reap corruption,

but the one who sows to the Spirit

will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

So why... as Believers... do we continue... to let flesh... lead... and drive... our decisions... choices... thinking...?

Because... we forget... God is God... and we are not...

People believe a lie over the truth of God (Rom. 1:25). What's the lie? This fallen nature in us believes that we're smarter than God. I've never met anyone who will say that, but I've met hundreds of people who live like that: "I'm smarter than God."

---Matt Chandler, "Youth", in The Scriptures Testify about Me

When we choose... to use our own reasoning... or agree with human wisdom... philosophy... understanding... science... over the Word... His Word... we are saying... I'm smarter than God... He's just wrong here...

This is not a place I want to go... fear of the Lord... takes hold of my heart... spirit... at this point... and this... is the beginning of wisdom...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

Fools... despise... His Word... His commands... His instruction...

God says, "Remember my law because if you remember my law and practice my law you will see how great and beautiful and amazing I am and how much I love you and how much I am trying to lead you into how I designed things to work for the glory of my name and your ultimate joy."

---Matt Chandler, "Youth", in The Scriptures Testify about Me 

Recognize... where you are living from flesh... choosing corruption... decay... over life... joy... peace...

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;

whoever is discerning, let him know them;

for the ways of the Lord are right,

and the upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9 ESV