Thursday: Something Worth Testifying About
“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” (Galatians 2:20).
There are certainly sacrifices when we accept Christ.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
There are things He asks us to surrender. Jesus made plain the commitment it would take to follow Him: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NKJV). Death on a cross is a painful death. When we surrender our lives to the claims of Christ and this “old man” of sin is crucified (see Romans 6:6), it is painful. It is painful at times to give up cherished desires and lifelong habits, but the rewards far outweigh the pain.
Powerful testimonies that have a life-changing impact on others focus on what Christ has done for us, not what we have given up for Him. They center on His sacrifice, not on our so-called “sacrifices”. For Christ never asks us to give up anything that it is in our best interest to retain.
Yet, the history of Christianity is filled with stories of those who had to make tremendous sacrifices for Christ’s sake. Not that these people were earning salvation, or that their acts, no matter how selfless and sacrificial, gave them merit before God. Instead, in most cases, realizing what Christ has done for them, these men and women were willing to lay all on the altar of sacrifice, according to God’s calling in their life.
Read John 1:12, John 10:10, John 14:27, and 1 Corinthians 1:30. Our testimony always is based on what Christ has done for us. List some of the gifts of His grace mentioned in the texts above.
In light of the texts above, think about what Christ has done for you. You may have been a dedicated Christian all of your life, or possibly you have experienced a more dramatic conversion. Meditate on how good Jesus has been to you and the purpose, peace, and happiness He has given you. Think about the times He has given you the strength to get through the difficult experiences of your life.
| What kind of sacrifices have you been called to make for the sake of Christ? What have you learned from your experiences that could be a blessing to others? |
(25)
I am, according to my daughter, elderly. And being elderly, one runs the risk of pontificating about the achievements of life. Or, because we are Christians, we change the wording slightly to say, "what Christ has acheived through us!"
Perhaps it is not about "achieving" but "living". We put a lot of emphasis on "achieving" in life. Students are encouranged to pass examinations, and to achieve qualifications. We are told that we should seek financial success, or that we should influence a lot of people. One of the problems with "achievement focus is that sometimes we loose perspective. The moments of achievement should not obscure the plain ordinary living in between.
As an illustration, I achieved a PhD in computer science. If all I achieved was a piece of paper granting me the right to call myself Doctor, and the privilage of wearing funny clothes on ceremonial occassions, then all that work was in vain. The real achievemnt was the ability to think and analyse, to develop ideas and write about them. It was the ongoing process that was the real benefit.
Coming back to our spiritual development, Paul says it so well in Gal 2:20:
It is not about achieving anything, but its about "Christ living in me." And before anyone says that we have just made another Christian epithet, let us take the time to understand what we mean when we say that "Christ living in us".
An Illustration: When I get married I made some huge sacrifices. I had to give up half my food, I could not do anything without thinking how it would affect Carmel, my living space was invaded, and I even had to have an opinion about which dress she looked best in. Were these sacrifices? Those of us who value our marriage know that the relationship far outweighs the "sacrifices". It's not about achievement but about living.
Salvation is likewise not about achieving but about living in a relationship now. Yesterday I mentioned that some see the Christian concept of salvation as spiritual "Cargo Cultism" - we achieve salvation at some future time because we are doing something now. When we look at salvation as the relationship we have now it takes away that "achievement" certificate at the end attitude and puts the emphasis on living now. Does that make sense?
The Spirit sent by Jesus at His departure is given to lead the believer into all truth and takes residence where once the old 'self' lived - one's mind (not my will, but Thy will be done!). Flesh can not communicate with Spirit - God is Spirit.
The old self is dying as we live by Faith in the Word of God and walk in His Light. In the process, our heart, mind, body are transformed into a spiritually guided, living soul which can communicate with God's Spirit.
Please, take note - the wording "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live *by the FAITH *OF* THE SON OF GOD*. It is Jesus' Faith which we are being saved by. His is a living Faith, expressed through applying the Gospel Message!
Those who have 'heard' the call, yearn to come home to the Father! Because of Jesus' Faith WE can have faith, because of Jesus' Faith we can believe! He is risen! He made it possible for all to receive His Spirit - all who believe; His Gospel Message and its Light and Truth are clear and easy to understand.
Because we believed, we continue to submit the flesh and yield to the Light of the Spirit of Truth lighting our way through life.
Therefore, it is not any longer I that lives, BUT CHRIST IN ME. WE understand that All that is good is from above! James 1:17
The flesh only reaps corruption; only the fruit of the Spirit establishes the spiritual nature one is committed to develop through walking by the Light of the Spirit.
Again, it is not us(us is flesh) living in Christ, but it is Christ(he is Spirit) living in us. The Spirit cleanses us from unrighteousness and gives us a new mind with which to understand the things of God, which are spiritual and praise His Holy Name.
Amen brother
This is so practical, living Jesus in the now,forgetting our so-call sacrifice looking towards the future, a future with Christ forever.
I thought I was enjoying life but when I got to know Jesus I realized how soul destroying my life had been. Now I praise the LORD who has broken the chains that bound me by the blood of His sacrifice.
Back then I have been struggling to ask for an excuse on my teacher whenever there is an activity that falls during Sabbath day but God did not leave me, my mother is a great blessing that God has given me during those times because she made sure that my teachers will excuse me during those times.
My classmates would asked me, why I am always absent during those times, I always told them that Sabbath day is our day or rest and not Sunday which will make them ask more about it and I get to share them what we believe is right.
As far as I am concerned, Gal.2:20 is among the most important scripture verses the faithful believer will want to understand deeply in his/her soul. Everything we need to know about our Believe and resulting Faith is captured in these few words.
As I was contemplating the Truth of this verse, a new word came to mind. The original verse reads: "..and the life which I now live in the flesh I live BY the faith of the Son of God ...".
I changed one word for it to read: ... and the life which I now live in the flesh I live ACCORDING to the faith of the Son of God ....
We live *by* as well as *according* to the Faith of the Son of God. Jesus' all inclusive Faith prepared the way for us to faithfully walk in; we now live according to His Way because we have blieved His Message of Love and Truth!
Jesus' Faith was never meant to be static or just in our heads as an idea 'about' living. It is meant to be applied as our New way of life - the Life where Jesus' Spirit dwells in us and guides us to live according to His spiritually discerned standards.
Jesus' light points to the Word of our Creator Father, God - it transforms us, and the example He lived to demonstrate the power of living by the Word of God is what we believe in; living it will lead us to be spiritually sanctified, cleansed, made new in the here and now and for eternity.
The Word of God is spiritually sanctifying Truth; no one can deny us our choice to believe this spiritually discerned Truth provided to us through Jesus, our Savior send by the Father above.
This is certainly 'something worth testifying about'!
“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” (Galatians 2:20).
As we read and re-read that text the Holy Spirit will be saying a lot to us. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God (Jesus). What is the faith of Jesus? What does it means to have faith in Jesus? Are the two the same or different? I am crucified with Christ, but what is crucified with Christ because I am still alive? How does being crucified with Christ looks? Does it means giving up our coats and cloaks? Are we ready to give up both? I have never heard about an easy Crucifixion.
Help me father to die daily to sin, it is only then can you come and live in me. The life after is not I, but you living and moving in me. Without you I am dead.