When one thinks about Valentine day, thoughts of romance and love often flood the mind. Seldom is death thought of on Valentine’s day, yet in the entertainment industry, Hollywood released on Valentine day this year (February 14, 2013), the action blockbuster as part of the action blockbuster ‘Die Hard’ series, the movie – A good day to die hard.
Come to think of it, not just valentine day, but each day is a good day to die hard – die hard to self and sin. The Bible counsels us to not live after the flesh but if we live through the Spirit, we need to mortify the deeds of the body so that we shall live (Romans 8:13). We must mortify earthly desires and vices such as fornication (sexual immorality), uncleanness, inordinate affection (lusts), evil concupiscence (desires), and covetousness which is idolatry, anger, rage, malicious behavior, blasphemy (slander), and filthy conversation, and everything that brings the wrath of God. (Colossians 3:5-6). The Apostle Paul writes that he faced death daily (1 Corinthians 15:31) and so not just on valentine’s day but each day, we must mortify the matters of the flesh, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice as our spiritual act of worship, so that we can live by and through the Spirit of God, conforming each day into Christ’s image.
Points to ponder:
Jesus said, “No greater love has one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) and as friends of God (John 15:15), we must lay down our life for Jesus our friend, mortifying our selfish and sinful desires, for the One True God and Savior of the World, in whom is life – life eternal. Valentine day is a good day to die hard – to our self and sin; for our Savior. No greater gift can you give to God than this. Happy Valentine day!
Romans 8:13 (KJV)
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
