Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NIV
Christianity is all about dying to ourselves. Some see this as hideous, onerous, and weak. Why give up your desires, wants, and longings for something someone else mandates they wonder. That sounds like slavery they charge. However, they fail to realize that surrendering our wills to Christ is like a bird surrendering to air currents or a fish to the water.
When we surrender to the Lord, He gives us the power to be what we were made to be, enabled to be useful in ways that are eternal, empowered to have life not limited by mortal boundaries, and blessed by communion with the Creator as our Father. What is lost in this surrender to Christ living in us? Only our selfishness and our self-damage caused by rebellion.
Being crucified with Christ means that we are no longer under the penalty of the Law. That penalty was paid by Christ on our behalf. When Christ was crucified, it was as if we were crucified with Him. The penalty was fully paid just as surely as if we had been crucified for our own sins. When Christ rose from the dead, we rose, too. Now the risen Christ empowers us to live for Him in a way that pleases God.
We used to seek life through our own works, but now we live by faith in the Son of God. It is as we submit to His gracious leading and gentle guidance, that sin is mortified and grace is quickened.
The more we respond to His gracious leading and gentle guidance, the more we can say, "I live, and yet not I, but Christ lives in me," for it is His Spirit that communes with our human spirit. He is the Source that is leading and guiding our new life in Christ in the things that we say and the way that we behave.
The reality of this Christian life, as a hymn proclaims, is “joy unspeakable, full of glory,” and “the half has never yet been told.” Because Christ lives in us, we overflow with His life. This present life is not the one we once endured, but that our sins are washed away, guilt free, arms wide open, we are a brand new creation.
All the old has gone, and His life has flooded in to fill every nook and cranny with lavish love, perennial peace, and jubilant joy. We should radiate that life. Jesus Christ is alive. The King of kings, the Lamb of God slain, conquered death, hell, and the grave to bring life everlasting.
No need to wait and see. No need to postpone. He is alive. He is life. And He lives in us. We are filled with Life, full of life, and carrying that Life to the world. Live!!!
Father thank You for this day and for Your indwelling Holy Spirit Who was sent to lead and guide us through this earthly life, and Who lives in us. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and let your abundant blessings flow upon my friend and family today. Lord teach to listen to Your voice and recognize Your promptings. Lord we pray that, more and more, Your will, not ours be done until we can say with Paul, the life that we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today.
Father, we love You, Amen !
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