For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake . So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (2 Corinthians 4:11,12).

It is the great mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Death gives life. Jesus' death on the cross gave life. The death of a vision brings new vision. The death of a seed gives new life. It is the central focus of God's requirement for experiencing Him...death. When Jesus extended us an invitation to experience salvation and a relationship with Him it came with a great cost, our very lives. Yet, what we don't realize is that until we relinquish our total lives we really aren't living at all. Without this death we will continue to strive, manipulate, and fret over every detail of life. It is when we finally say, "Yes, Lord, I am yours completely." that we experience real freedom for the first time. This is the only time when Christ is fully seen in and through our lives. Christ describes our lives as vessels. Vessels for Him to be revealed in and seen by others.

How is your vessel today? When people look inside will they see a life that is dead to all things, save the life of Christ revealed. In the marketplace we are faced with challenges each day that seek to instill fear and control at every turn, but Christ says He wants to live through your life in the marketplace. He wants to reveal Himself to your fellow worker today. However, He can only do this if our vessel is free of ourselves. Ask Jesus what things must die today in order for Him to live completely in and through you.