Deny the "I"

We were all born into Adam—and therefore into sin. From the start, that sinful nature was ours. Sin held dominion over our lives. We never had to be taught how to do wrong; it came naturally. What we had to learn was how to choose what is right. Every parent understands this reality well.

And then—we met Jesus!

Jesus is the last Adam.  The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Adam is the Lord of Heaven.   Just as we bore the image of the fallen Adam of dust, we now bear the image of Christ, the heavenly man.   The “I” has been crucified with Christ and disappeared. It is Christ who lives.

Denying the "I" is turning away from the dust—denying the default, sinful pattern of self-centeredness and desires. Until we realize our heavenly position of oneness with Christ, the "I" is the default pattern and our center focus. 

Martin Luther said, “The Christian is Christ”.   Luther is saying we should be able to say with the Apostle Paul “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” Gal. 2:20.  The "I" is no longer! The devil, wickedness, unpleasant circumstances are confronted with Christ instead--and we know how that turns out!

Deny the “I”.   Everything can happen to the “I” or the “me”. But if there is no “I”, what do you fear? What evil can come upon you?  

1Corinthians 15:49  
And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven. 

Like the one made of dust, so too are made of dust.

Like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly.

Prayer Challenge

St. Francis of Assisi prayed like this: A prayer that denies the "I". 
LORD!
Make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so
much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand; to be
loved, as to love; for it is in giving that
we receive, it is in pardoning that we are
pardoned, and it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life.