For me, one of the most beautiful and meaningful passages is found when Paul stated: “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.” (Gal. 2:20) Maybe this verse does not mean a lot to many today because we don’t see many people COMMITTED TO CHRIST like this. That’s why Jesus says, “…MANY are called, but FEW are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) Indeed, this is sad. However, should we not be committed to the Lord IN THE SAME FASHION? I believe we must. Let us examine this passage and then compare it to our own lives to see if we are as committed to Christ as Paul was.
Paul stated, “I have been crucified with Christ.” I believe that Paul has reference to his own conversion. Paul taught the Romans, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Rom. 6:6). The act of sanctification is what Paul was speaking! When we were sanctified, we die to sin and thus figuratively “crucified” ourselves with Christ. As Christians, we cannot continue to live in the ways of sin, (Rom. 6:1-2). We must live a life that the Lord and His will have dictated. Therefore, the next logical step is to recognize that Christ lives in us. “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.” (Gal. 2:20) “It is no longer I who live,” Paul says, here I believe we can see what kind of commitment Paul had made to live for the Lord. We must understand that if we want to live as Paul lived, we must realize that we must surrender our will to the will of Christ. Yes, we are alive physically. Yes, we must still make proper choices and overcome temptation! We do this by allowing His word to dwell in us. In an interesting passage found in Galatians, Paul states that those who walk after the Spirit “…do not DO the things that you wish.“ (Gal. 5:17). To be totally committed to Christ is allowing Him to guide us in our lives. Doing and living the way He lived, following the examples that He set. Jesus said, “…whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham