These past few weeks have been an immense learning experience for me. Learning from God and about God. It wouldn't be humanly possible to learn so much in so many areas in such a short time, but with God, all things are possible. Its true! He just made the "impossibles" happen in mine! Just being in obedience unlocks new learning material! The blessings just come when I act out what I have learnt. Whether it is regarding believing God for finances, walking in divine health or simply practising righteousness, it just amazes me how good God is.

Recently I've been troubled with a stiff back and it didn't go away with after praying what I would call regular prayer. So while I was on the MRT to city hall, I decided to meditate on Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV) and get it into my spirit.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

In my bible, I had written beside the words griefs and sorrow, the words pains and sickness, respectively. These words are closer to the original Hebrew meanings. I also began reading 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

When I was reading this verse, I began to take notice of the phrase "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness". It brought to mind the theme for our church's youth camp.
"Dead to Sin. Alive in Christ".
Jesus died that we might die to sin. Why do translators use the word "might"? It brought across the impression that Jesus death is not final. It seems as if there is an uncertainty in that phrase.

But looking at other scripture like Romans 6:6-11 says that our old selves have died with Christ and that sin has been brought to nothing. We're dead to sin, once and for all.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Jesus to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Its all very clear and distinct. No confusion there. So back to 1 Peter 2:24. Why the use of the word "might"?

The answer that came to me was "choice". Jesus died so that we might die to sin. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came to give us the option. Does that mean that all in church have taken hold of the abundant life? Or that all those in church have all died to sin? But we have it! If we would only take hold of what we have.

Romans 3:22 says that the righteousness of God is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Choose!
1 Timothy says that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. We are righteous! But there needs to be a training of righteousness by using the the Word of God.

I started off with Isaiah 53 and got carried away into the study of righteousness. I was so blessed by this reminder and praise God, by the time I reached city hall, my back was healed. Just another example of the 'multi-purpose' power of the Word.