Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Background

When my mom came to stay with us for a few weeks around Christmas, she noticed after a day or two that someone new was living in our house. It wasn’t a pet, or an exchange student, or a friend of one of my kids. It was “Not me.” As my mom began helping with the upkeep of our home, as she so generously does almost from the moment she arrives, her questions to the kids of who left their clothes on the floor, or who got the toys out and left them in the den, were answered repeatedly with the finger being pointed at “Not me.” He seemed to be the cause of all of the clutter and the blame for all of the chaos. He was always in the middle of what was going wrong, but my kids almost never gave him the credit for putting everything away or cleaning up a mess.

Application

Now, I see a version of “Not me” in our verse today, and he shows up the moment after we have been crucified with Christ. But, before you jump right into the “Not me” part of who is living, think about when he shows up again – after you have been crucified with Christ. That is no minor incident in the life (and death) of a person. It’s not like you’ve had your teeth cleaned or gotten your hair cut. You have been crucified with Christ, your claims to your own life and your own plans have been killed. There is no breath remaining in your hopes of conquering the world or making a name for yourself. Your side has been pierced and the self you once had has drained out. Then, and only then, does the “Not Me” of Christ arrive. When you have been crucified and emptied, the only way to live is for “Not Me” to live in you. And the extent to which you live through Him is based completely on the faith you put in Him. That’s the blood that now runs through you. Your faith in Christ will give you just the amount of life that you ask Him to give. So, are you asking Him for very much? Our faith is in the Son of God, you know. The all-powerful, eternal creator of the universe, so there’s plenty of life available. He gave Himself for us so He could give Himself to us. Not me is who I want to be. And not later, but now.

Charge

As we seek Him today, examine what has not been crucified in you that’s keeping some of you in your life. Ask Jesus for more of the life He wants you to live.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words