Daily Devotion

“Sanctification is not something that can be achieved overnight, nor is it achieved through the efforts and will of the flesh; rather, it is the believer's daily act of completely considering himself 'dead' in the Holy Spirit, so that the holy life of Christ may live out within us without hindrance.”

Dora Yu · Six Lessons for Achieving Sanctification

Scripture

Romans 6:11 So you also must regard yourselves as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection

We often fall into the vicious cycle of "relying on the flesh to resolve," feeling increasingly powerless the more we try to abstain from sin, because the "old self" cannot be reformed. Paul said to "consider ourselves dead," meaning that the starting point of sanctification is not "striving to die," but "believing we are dead." When temptation comes, there's no need to wrestle with the flesh; simply declare in the Holy Spirit: that sensitive, proud, and irritable old self has been crucified with Christ. Only by letting go and allowing the ego to recede can the holy life of Christ's resurrection live out from within us without hindrance.