Crucified with Him
As i re-read ( Galatians 2:20-21 )…” I have been crucified with Christ and i no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life i live in the body, i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law ( or, by observing the law ), Christ died for nothing”, i ask myself, “ Does He ? Is there something different about me that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christ lives in me ?” Maybe you’d better ask yourself the same question. Do you hear and see things any differently, after you confessed Jesus as Lord ? Do you still hang onto “old ways”, or did “new ways” take their place (2 Corinthians 5:17 ) ? Do you look at folks differently ? Are they now, more important than yourself ( Philippians 2:3-4 ) ? What about your talk ? Does it reflect the attitude and character of Jesus Christ ? He wasn’t hateful…He didn’t demean or belittle others because of their race, religion or status in life…He loved em and accepted em for their worth in His Father’s eyes ( Matthew 6:26 ). He didn’t judge them…He loved them and came to save them ( John 12:47 ) from their sins. Do you and i love them enough to introduce them to Jesus … to get them in front of Him … and to encourage and help them in their new adventure with Him ? If we’re not constantly scrutinizing our own “fruits”, how will we ever know if our “conversion” really “took” ? God says,” The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” ( Galatians 5:22-23 ). Did His “graft” take ? Was there really a “heart-change” … “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you ; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” ( Ezekiel 36:26 ). If the words coming out our mouths DON’T sound like something Jesus would say, then we better start examining our HEARTS…because that’s where those words and thoughts originate ( Luke 6:45 ) ! I don’t wanna go through life “thinking” I’m right with God over some simple actions or words … do you ? I wanna know that I’m saved, sealed and being transformed into the sanctified vessel that glorifies God…in actions, in speech and even in my thoughts ! If there’s something in your life that doesn’t resemble Jesus Christ…doesn’t line up with His will or His Word…or, something that just keeps you from living the abundant life He’s prepared for you, stop what you’re doing and humbly bow before Him right now and ask Him to make the necessary adjustments. It may be you need to really surrender everything to Him and be born again. It may be a sin you need to relinquish and repent of. It may be a true “heart transplant” that’s needed. Just stop being one way on Sundays and a different somebody on the other six days !! God knows your heart. If your His, He’ll refine you ( Zechariah 13:9 ) and purify you. God hasn’t changed His standards or His character. Ours should line up with His … not the other way around ( Psalm 50:21 ). Pennye Jacobs Lewis has a lemon tree growing out back…if it sprouts apples, something’s wrong. The tomato plants she’s growing better not produce prunes and the muscadine vines ought not grow cucumbers. Neither should a child of God produce fruit of the sinful nature…” sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like” ( Galatians 5:19-21 ). We’re saved from such ! Jesus shed His precious life-giving blood to set us free from all those wicked ways ! Does Christ really live in you ? Have you really been crucified with Him ?