Walking in White: Embracing the New Life in Christ
Inspired by Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest"
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
— Romans 6:4
There is a distinct turning point in every believer's life—a moment where the old self must truly die for the new life in Christ to fully emerge. Oswald Chambers refers to this as the "white funeral," a burial of the self-driven life so that we may rise into the fullness of Jesus' life within us. This is not a metaphorical sentiment but a real and necessary death to self.
Too often, we circle the graveyard of surrender, hesitant to let go of our striving, our self-effort, and our illusion of control. Yet Jesus didn’t call us to a life of constant struggle to improve ourselves. He called us to die—to lay down the exhausting pursuit of self-righteousness and enter into the rest of His finished work.
Imagine a seed buried in the soil. To the outside world, it seems lost, discarded. But beneath the surface, life is stirring. The seed must cease to be a seed to become what it was always meant to be—a flourishing tree. In the same way, when we surrender to Christ, we are no longer striving seeds but are raised into the vibrant life of His Spirit within us.
The "white funeral" isn't about somber loss but about entering into radiant life. It’s where self-effort ends, and Christ's life begins to fully express itself through us. This death to self is not something we accomplish—it’s something we agree with God about. We reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11), trusting that Christ has already made this reality true for us.
This life in Christ cannot be shaken. When we are one with Him, our purpose becomes singular: to reflect Him. It is not about working harder or being more spiritual but resting in the truth that we have been raised to walk in newness of life.
A Prayer of Confident Rest in Christ’s Life
Father,
Thank You for uniting me with Christ in His death and resurrection. I rest in the truth that my old self is gone, and I now walk in the fullness of the life You have given me. There is no striving left to do—only to live, fully alive in Jesus. I rejoice that nothing can shake this life You’ve placed within me. You have already given me all I need to walk in this newness, and I trust You to express Your life through me today and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Thought
The invitation today is simple: stop circling the grave of self-effort and step into the life Christ has already secured for you. The "white funeral" is not an end but a glorious beginning. Let go, and walk in the newness of life that cannot be shaken.