Dying to Christ Daily

SCRIPTURE
“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.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20, ESV

REFLECTION 
Galatians 2:20 has always been extremely impactful to me when it I consider my walk with Christ and my journey to sanctification. For me, this passage highlights two of the most difficult aspects of being a follower of Jesus.

Discipline, and surrender.

Paul is making a bold claim in this passage. He’s telling us that he is surrendering every part of himself to allow Christ to live through him. How often are we caught up in ourselves? Our wants, our desires, our gripes and complaints, our insecurities? The self centric society that we live in has put US at the forefront, it’s put us in the drivers seat as we press on through each day and make our own decisions.

This societal climate and the sinful nature that we were born with has made it more difficult than ever to die to ourselves on a daily basis.

But let’s talk about that first aspect of the Christian walk that this passage brings to mind; discipline. It all starts with a choice. The choice to turn to Christ when it’s so much easier to turn inwardly or to our friends and family first. The choice to pick up our Bibles and immerse ourselves in the word. The choice to engage with our church family and surround ourselves with Christian community that will help us to stay accountable and to encourage us. I have found that on the days where I don’t feel like reading the word or praying or attending small group, I feel so encouraged after I make the decision to do so. I feel uplifted, closer to Christ, and my spirit is full after I make these decisions.

I also think it’s important for us to understand that we will fall short, we won’t always make the decision to die to ourselves, and we won’t always allow Christ to live through us. This is why surrender and an acknowledgment of the divine grace Christ has given us through his death is so crucial. All have fallen short, and Christ gave us the ultimate gift through his sacrifice; that despite our sinful nature, we can live eternally with him! Repentance, turning away from sin, and surrendering ourselves while recognizing the fact that we will fall short is just as important as the daily discipline of immersing ourselves in prayer, the word and community.

So let’s move forward together with our eyes on the one who sacrificed it all to give us the eternal life, and to be diligent in laying ourselves down before his throne, and allowing his spirit to move, work and speak through us!

PRAYER
God,
Thank you for the gift of your son that you’ve given us. Thank you for the grace that’s been given and the gift of eternal life that I have access to. I pray that I would never take this gift for granted, and that the life that I live and the decisions that I make would be focused on this grace and this gift. Help me to die to myself on a daily basis, I pray that your spirit would move and speak and work through me each day, and forgive me when I fall short and I put myself first. I pray that the life that I live would be lived by faith in your son, who gave his life for me.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen