1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Scripture Insights
One of the most used tricks of the enemy is to remind you who you used to be. If he can get you to live in your past—the mistakes, the failures, the poor decisions—he can keep you stuck. He will use your past to paralyze you in the present and rob you of your future. But in this verse, it’s not Satan that does it to us—it’s the apostle Paul! What precedes verse 11 is a list of ways our sinful nature manifests itself in our lives.
Paul is using this list to draw all of us into a profound truth in verse 11: No matter who we used to be, the blood of Jesus Christ covers it. And whatever the blood of Calvary touches, it redeems, restores, and renews. Through the work of Christ, we have been declared holy! Who you used to be is a vital part of your testimony because your testimony screams of the Father’s grace, the Son’s sacrifice, and the Spirit’s leading in your life.
Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, we rejoice that your grace has rewritten our story—that our past is meant only to remind us of how deep and wide your love and mercy are for us. Through Christ, we have been declared holy.
—Chris Collins
Lead Pastor, Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene
(Arizona)
