Next week we will be celebrating Good Friday.  What is this day all about?  I’ve been pondering this, and have come to the conclusion that on Good Friday we find this reality: Death is a must if we want to find life.

Dying to sin, to self and the world…okay, that’s a lot of dying. But, a corpse cannot sin. We’re going beyond saying “no” to sin, but directly to death where sin is no longer an option.

What’s incredible is that we get to live through Christ instead. “I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” -Galatians 2:20

Right before Verse 20, it says, “I have died (to the law) so that I might live for God.”

To live requires dying first? Talk about upside down thinking.

It’s true to say that Jesus died so that we wouldn’t have to (as penalty for our sin). But it’s also true that Jesus died so that we could die as well! A death to free us…
Die in sin, or die to self. I’ll choose the latter. I’ll gladly give up my self to have His Spirit and grace ruling my life instead.

Lately I’ve had a bone to pick with the zoo. There is something in my animal-loving heart that is troubled by the idea of animals being imprisoned. I begged my parents to take me to the Dallas zoo as a kid and got my wish (despite my British mum’s hatred of Texas summers over 100 degrees). When I got there, I always wanted to rescue the animals! “They’re not really free,” I thought.

True. Captivity isn’t the natural or intended purpose of a lion. They were made for the pride, for dominion and dynasty! (Maybe I’ve watched too many documentaries.)

We are the lionesses in captivity, the zebras behind the glass, when we let “self” rule our lives instead of Christ.

To put it simply, self is holding you back.

Let go and die to self now. Exchange control of your own life and get life forever. True life is “living by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” – Galatians 2:21

Good Friday is not just about Jesus dying on the cross. It’s as much about us dying too, with Him.

And Sunday is coming.

-Becca

What does “Good Friday” mean to you? Comment below!

“Jesus personally carried our sins in His body on the cross, so that we can be dead to sin, and live for what is right.” 1 Peter 2:24