Wages of sin

Ask the Lord for a revelation in his word and he never fails to deliver. Case in point came for me today in a still small voice as usual. Romans 3:23 says that the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Previously I’ve always read that to mean I didn’t have to die because Jesus paid the debt I owed; while thankfully that perception could not be more true – I feel like the Holy Spirit took it a little deeper. You see you can’t be born again without first dying. Paul said he is crucified with Christ and that he no longer lives but Christ is alive in me in Galatians 2:20. He plainly states that he had to die to himself, even the death of the cross to receive Christ. So now in my own words I will restate exactly the same truth Paul said almost 2,000 years ago. When I decided to lay down my life for God, I had to give up all my hopes and dreams and comforts. Of course, decisions like that do not come without the second part of that verse. I sinned and came up short of the glory of God which is the only standard worthy of mentioning, therefore meaning I owed wages. In Luke 14 Jesus gives us the example of this when he asks which of you wanting to begin building does not sit down first and count the cost? Lest haply ye begin to build and run out of money and not finish and be mocked by all those who see. The fact of the matter is that God will richly supply all you need IF you do make the choice and take the first step of picking up your cross and crucify your flesh with Christ so he can become alive in you. There simply is no other way to receive the gift of God without submitting to his will and resisting the devil. Jesus pays the debt for all who receive him and gives them life, and life more abundant John 10:10. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, a process which begins with loving not our own lives.