Contemplative Bible Reading

Galatians 5:24 (New Living Translation)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

I like the wording of this verse in this translation.

I used to hate people who were fill-in-the-blank, but I killed that hatred by nailing it to the cross of Jesus Christ. He enabled me to put that terrible part of my sinful nature to death. It no longer exists in my life.

I believe this to be a goal of the Christian. I have yet to kill all the parts of my sinful nature, but as I walk with Christ and grow in His grace more and more of them die.

I have met people who say that their entire sinful nature died the moment they emerged from the grave of baptism. It hasn’t been that way with me. God, help me with my unbelief.