GALATIANS 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
KEYWORD: The decision we make concerning how we live shapes both our future and our eternal destiny.
The opening scripture confronts us with a profound truth. There is a life we once lived, and there is a life we are now called to live. According to Apostle Paul, the believer’s life is no longer centered on self, but on Christ who now lives within. This means that the question is no longer whether we are alive, but whose life is being expressed through us. It is in the light of this truth that we must honestly examine the kind of life we are living.
We may not always fully understand this truth, but it remains our responsibility to decide the kind of life we will live. At times, it may feel as though circumstances beyond our control push us into certain decisions. We may even feel manipulated, influenced, or pressured. Yet, in the end, we are the ones who determine the life we live here on earth, and ultimately, the life we will live in eternity. The decision we make concerning how we live now shapes both our future and our eternal destiny. This is why God continually calls us to examine our lives and consciously choose the path we desire to walk.
We can decide to live for ourselves, pursuing momentary pleasure or yielding to the pressures around us. We can also choose to lift our eyes and become aware that other options are available. We must not automatically walk the path of destruction set before us, assuming that no alternative exists. In the opening scripture, Apostle Paul draws our attention away from self and directs it toward the life Jesus lived. Crucified for our sake, Jesus willingly went to the cross and endured everything necessary to make us His own. When we consider such sacrifice, we are compelled to ask ourselves why He chose to do all this for us.
What did Jesus so deeply desire for you that He was willing to face rejection, suffering, and abuse without hesitation? Are you willing to hear this truth today and receive it? If you do, one thing is certain. The life that is in Him will begin to work within you. Fear will gradually lose its power over your thoughts, and every sense of unworthiness will be washed away. His love will surround you and lead you into a deeper understanding of all that He has freely given to you.
Accept the life of Jesus today and be released from the grip of sin over your mind and body. Do not allow Christ’s death and the grace it brought to you to be in vain. Shalom!
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You have done so much for me, and I desire to receive all that You have sacrificed to give me. Today, I gladly accept the life of Jesus into my heart and choose to walk in a manner worthy of this great gift. Help me to live my life in a way that truly pleases You, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
GALATIANS 2:21: “I do not frustrate the grace of God. For if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
ROMANS 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
