Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”
Jesus said that He came to bring life, and life abundantly. (See John 10:10) It seems hard to reconcile the concept of death with this message. If He came to bring us life, why should I have to put to death certain parts of my life?
In the vast majority of our mega-churches today you will never hear a message about bearing your cross, sanctification, or sacrifice, let alone a message about death to self. It is all positive messages about how great God thinks you are despite what you have done.
The true message of the Bible, however, is not just about life. For without the death of Jesus, there would be no life. Without the brutal punishment of the cross, there would be no forgiveness for sin, nor healing for the body. And without the three days in the pit of hell, suffering unimaginable horrors on our behalf, there would be no hope for our eternal well-being in Paradise.
In the same way, if you never experience a kind of « death » in your life, you will never truly know the life that God has promised. You must understand that the life of heaven cannot co-exist with the death of this world. You must choose which of the two will be your master. Either drink from the cup of this world, with its temporary pleasures. Or drink from the cup of heaven with its promise of eternal rewards.
The Greek verb translated as put to death is nek-ro-o. And it means to deaden or to subdue. It is a violent word implying resolute action. There is no negotiating with nek-ro-o. There is no raising the white flag. You resolutely, and violently subdue until dead the parts of you that are contrary to the word and character of God.
Our ultimate battle in this life is NOT with the devil. The Bible tells us that Jesus paralyzed him at the cross (Hebrews 2:14). If we submit to God and just resist him, he will flee! (James 4:7). No, our greatest battle is against our own desire for the forbidden fruit. And this is a battle you must win — and one you will win.
I encourage you today, rather than make a list of your weaknesses and temptations, make a list, based on God’s word, of your victories that are at hand. Confess what the power of God will do in your life. And then prepare to conquer!
Jeûne de Daniel 
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