Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The believer is identified with Christ in His death. Not only was He crucified on Calvary, but you were crucified there as well—in Him. This means the end of you as a sinner in God’s sight. It means the end of you as a person seeking to merit or earn salvation by your own efforts. It means the end of you as a child of Adam, as one under the condemnation of the law, as your old, unregenerate self. The old, evil “I” has been crucified; it has no more claims on your daily life. This is true as to your standing before God; it should be true as to your behavior. The believer does not cease to live as a personality or as an individual. But the one who is seen by God as having died is not the same one who lives. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” The Savior did not die for you in order that you might go on living your life as you choose. He died for you so that from now on He might be able to live His life in you. The life which you now live in the human body, you live by faith in the Son of God.
Challenge:
Faith means reliance or dependence. As a Christian you are to live by continual dependence on Christ, by yielding to Him, by allowing Christ to live His life in you. Therefore, the believer’s rule of life is Christ and not the law. It is not a matter of striving, but of trusting. You can live a holy life, not out of fear of punishment, but out of love to the Son of God, who loves you and gave Himself for you. Your challenge for the week is to allow Christ to live in you and show through you. Be a living example of Jesus in everything you do this week. When your old behaviors and attitudes begin to manifest themselves in you, stop and be reminded of the fact that you have been crucified in Christ and let His life shine through you. We all have those days when nothings goes our way and everything is difficult. Let God’s will be done even if you are stuck in traffic and going to be late for your next appointment, if you are in a business meeting that is seemingly a waste of your time, or if you just can’t seem to get anything on your to-do list accomplished. Even in these types of situations God will use you. Always remember that God can use the little you have and turn that into great abundance and still have leftovers. Jesus fed over 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish! Let Him use you this week. God bless you.