I die daily • Deshen Daily

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV)

What a strong and surprising expression to die daily! What did Paul mean?

Thankfully, Paul rephrased this truth in his second letter to the Corinthians, stating:

“For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11 KJV)

So when Paul said, “I die daily,” he meant he was in constant peril of his life, always in the sight of physical death. Please also note that when Paul died daily, as he mentioned in 1 Corinthians 4:11, the life of Jesus was made manifest in his mortal flesh. So when Paul died, then he lived Christ’s life. Furthermore, Jesus said until a grain of wheat dies, it does not produce fruit(John 12:24).

In Romans 8:13, Paul explained a parallel truth: “but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13 ESV). When we die to the flesh, we live the life of the Spirit. Oh, how we all love John 10:10, where Jesus promised abundant life to the full until it runs down our cup as a river. However, the secret to enjoying that life is dying to self—saying not our will but thine (God’s) be done (Luke 22:42).

When we die daily to the flesh, we continually say no to our desires, passions, and wants to do what God desires. Contrary to common fears, dying to self is not losing the joy of life or living a miserable life; instead, when you die to self, you suddenly realize you start really enjoying life—the glory of God’s presence and power. Die daily.

Meditate

What does Paul mean by, I die daily?

Apply the Word

We surrender to God every day; we constantly mortify the flesh and yield to Him every day. The flesh is not going anywhere until Jesus comes. He calls us to die daily to the flesh, to step into the law of the Spirit of life.