Devotional: Dead or Alive

Romans 8:9-15

During the days when the west was being settled there were many persons wanted by the law for crimes that they had committed. During this time the law officials would post wanted signs for these criminals. Many of these posters had a picture of the criminal and his name. On the sign along with the name was the caption: “Wanted Dead or Alive” and offered a reward for the capture of the said criminal. The Bounty Hunters would collect these posters and set out to find these criminals. The bounty hunter would find the criminal, take his body, dead or alive, to the appropriate law official and collect the bounty on the criminal’s head.

In Romans 8 Paul tells us that all people are wanted; some dead and some alive. Before Jesus Christ died for our sins we were all dead and eternal damnation was our terminal point. In a sense, the devil receives us as a reward in hell. On the other hand, Jesus offers us the chance to be made alive and God receives us in heaven to live with Him and Jesus forever.

Paul tells us that before we believe in Jesus we live according to the flesh. In order to receive eternal life we must die to the flesh and receive God’s Spirit which gives us life. God does not receive us dead but alive. We must choose whether we will be dead or alive. We either continue to live in the flesh which is death, or we believe in Jesus and live in the Spirit which is eternal life. Whether dead or alive we are wanted. We accept Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to be among those who are wanted alive.

Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ your Son who makes it possible for us to be among the wanted who are alive. We pray that we will seek to know your truth so that we can truly be your disciple and have eternal life. Amen!