Grace Changes Everything
- May 27
- 3 min read
A 3-Day Devotional Based on Doug M. Gehm's message, May 24, 2026
Day 1 - The Power of Union
Read: Romans 6:3–5
Devotional:
The concept of being "united" with Christ is one of the most mysterious and beautiful truths in all of Scripture. Paul uses the imagery of baptism to show that when we align our lives with Jesus, we aren't just following a teacher; we are being fused to Him. Just as a branch is grafted into a vine to receive life, we are grafted into His death and His resurrection. This means that your old life—with its regrets, its failures, and its "old coach" voices—was buried with Him. You are no longer a solo act trying to survive; you are part of a supernatural union.
When we realize we are united with Jesus, it changes how we view our daily struggles. You aren't trying to generate your own power to be "better." Instead, you are learning to live out of the resurrection power that already exists within you because of Him. This union is secure and vital. It is a "growing together" where His nature begins to overlap and replace your old inclinations. Today, take a deep breath and realize that you are not walking alone; you are walking in the strength of the One who conquered the grave.
Application:
In what area of your life do you feel like you are "walking alone," and how would realizing your union with Christ change your perspective on that struggle?
Day 2 - The Password Has Changed
Read: Romans 6:6–10
Devotional:
Imagine if a "friend" who betrayed you had the password to your entire digital life, posting things that didn't represent you and causing chaos. You would feel helpless and misrepresented. This is how Paul describes sin—as a master that once had total access to our "accounts." But the good news of the Gospel is that the password has been changed. Through Christ’s death, the "old self" that was once a slave to those impulses has been crucified. The hacker has been locked out.
The problem many of us face is that we still listen to the old master when he "calls" or "emails" us. We forget that he no longer has authority over us. We might experience "phantom" feelings of our old life, but the legal reality is that we are free. You don't have to obey the old passions of your mortal body because you have been set free by the death of the old self. You belong to a new Master now, one who offers life instead of exhaustion.
Application:
What "old master" or habit is still trying to call you today, and how can you practically practice saying "No, you don't have the password anymore"?
Day 3 - Consider and Present
Read: Romans 6:11–14
Devotional:
Transformation doesn't happen by accident; it involves two very intentional movements of the heart: considering and presenting. To "consider" is an accounting term. It means you look at the facts of what God has done and you count on them as true, even when your emotions feel otherwise. You must tell yourself, "I am dead to sin and alive to God." This is the mental battleground where we choose to believe God’s Word over our own flawed experience.
Once we have "considered" the truth, we must "present" our members to God. This is the practical step. It means offering your eyes, your hands, your tongue, and your mind to Him as "instruments of righteousness." Think of it as a daily, even hourly, offering. Instead of letting your members be used for frustration or selfishness, you consciously say, "Lord, my hands are Yours today; use them for Your work." As you live under the waterfall of grace rather than the weight of the law, you will find that sin loses its dominion over you.
Application:
Take a moment right now to physically "present" yourself to God. Tell Him specifically: "Lord, I give You my [thoughts/hands/time] today to be used for Your purposes."
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