It’s a pleasure to have you back once again, here at Daily Bread. The last few chapters have focused mainly on the law, the Jewish people compared to the Gentiles, and how we are all essentially alike because we’re all God’s children. Paul has given us some great detailed explanations of how our salvation all boils down to one thing, really, and that is, Faith in Jesus Christ.

          So, how should we behave in our lives as believers in Christ? Well, life isn’t perfect, as Paul in his unashamed and humble manner, back in Chapter 7 described how our fleshly selves war with our spiritual selves each and every day. But the one purpose we have, our hope for salvation, makes us view our trials and tribulations in a different light than before.

          How about a little Daily Bread Stick to begin our study with today? What is an immunization? As strange as it sounds, it’s where an antigen (a toxin which is part of a disease) is injected into your body, and in turn, your body produces antibodies (a type of protein) that mixes with the antigens to neutralize (destroy) them, which makes you highly resistant to the disease.

          You can look at trials and tribulations in your life, in the same way, as a Christian. Evil is the antigen. The devil introduces it into your fleshly self by way of your senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and thought. Your spiritual self has to produce the antibodies to destroy the evil. The antibodies are TRUTH. The more you do this, the more resistant you become to evil.

          Now, wickedness or evil, as you know, despises being exposed to the light, so the best way to zap it with your new Christian immunization is to identify and reveal every kind of evil or wickedness as soon as you can. For example: you’re on the computer, typing an e-mail to your Grand Dad, and an advertisement pops up that is meant to tempt you. Immediately X it off your screen, quote scripture that brings light to the lie, say aloud “I’m not interested in filth” or something to that effect, and you’ve done it! The point it to destroy the lie with TRUTH. You can do the same thing to commercials on television, messages on the radio, in magazines or newspapers, thoughts that come into your mind, or absolutely anything that you wouldn’t be proud to walk up to Jesus and share with Him. Try this kind of resistance to the devil for a while and see if temptation becomes easier for you to fight. Each time evil offers you an opportunity, that’s another chance for you to immunize yourself against it. Trials will come, but, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

          It’s all part of spiritual warfare, which is the devil’s quest to win as many souls as he can, away from God. Now there’s two ways to look at this. You can be afraid that evil is bound to cross your path every day, and hide in your cupboard. Or, you can understand that if you’re not being tempted by evil, it may be because you’ve drifted far enough away from God, that the devil doesn’t feel like he needs to spend the effort on you. So the next time you’re confronted with a wicked situation, look at it as an opportunity to spiritually strengthen yourself.

          Every moment is a new moment to renew our lives and become closer to Jesus. We have to change from the “old man” as Paul refers to our old selves, into the “new man” which is who we want to be for God. Let’s see how Paul encourages us to do this.

By the mercies of God I ask you, friends,

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, and acceptable to God, which is a fair request.

          When you think of the word “sacrifice” in Old Testament terms, you probably think of Abel, giving his favorite, flawless little lamb to God, or faithful Abraham, preparing to sacrifice Isaac to God, after all the waiting and heartache he endured, finally having the son of the Lord’s promise, and how honorable it was of him not to hesitate when God asked for the boy for a sacrifice. The word sacrifice may make you think of Jesus, being the final sacrifice for our sins, but what do all these have in common? A sacrifice was something loved, that was to be killed and given to God. Paul says, give your body to God as a living sacrifice. Be as unblemished as a baby lamb, be as precious as a long awaited son, be Christ-like.

Don’t be conformed to this world,