“I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day!” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:31‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

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Paul did not die in the flesh every day and then raised to life again. He probably did raise to life on a few occasions after a stoning or whipping, but not every day. 

“Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:24-25‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/2co.11.24-25.hcsb

But his death came by being a living sacrifice. He would put himself on God’s altar daily and submit to God’s will and plan every day. 

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/rom.12.1.hcsb

“So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:12-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/rom.8.12-14.hcsb

So who of us can say with pride in Jesus Christ our Lord that we die every day to the fleshly man and live each day by the Spirit? Have we really broken our ties to the old fleshly man and strengthened the ties to the Spirit?

If your life was a boat called the Obedient Christian in Action would your mast be properly supported by four strong ropes? Would your prayer rope be strong? Would your Bible rope be tight? Would your fellowship rope be secure? Would your witnessing rope be ready? Or would any of your ropes be slack and not doing its job?

“Your ropes are slack; they cannot hold the base of the mast or spread out the flag. Then abundant spoil will be divided, the lame will plunder it,”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:23‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/isa.33.23.hcsb

Here in Isaiah God is using two analogies to compare our lives. The second one is a ship that has loose ropes that cannot hold up the mast. And since the ship is not able to do what it was designed to do it becomes plundered and empty. Like our life when we are not keeping our ropes tight and ready, we become an empty vessel, useless to God. And the first analogy is a tent.

“Look at Zion, the city of our festival times. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up nor will any of its cords be loosened.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/isa.33.20.hcsb

And this tent is held secure by its ropes and pegs. It does not move about by every passing wind. So shall our life be if we keep our ropes tight? We will be held securely to the Rock of ages. Our soul would be anchored to the peace of God.

I would be willing to say Paul kept his ropes tight by dyeing daily to his flesh and seeking after God in his spirit. We don’t follow Paul because we were just a good man, but because He followed Jesus with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/1co.11.1.hcsb


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