Have you made the decision about sin that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective choice about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you – not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but be crucified just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to in Romans 6.
We cannot simply “reckon ourselves to be dead to sin” (Romans 6:11) unless we have truly dealt with the issue of our will before God. Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death. Take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Let the Spirit of God search me until I know what the level and nature of sin is in my life – to see the things that struggle against God’s Spirit in me. And agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin – that it be identified with the death of Jesus.
Enter into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, so that all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20a ESV
Adapted from My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers (1874 – 1917)