Living

 Well I read my Bible and commentaried it. I have read my other devotional materials and my daily Bible verse calendar and have decide that today I’m drawn to the scripture, Galatians 2:20, “ I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Wow what could I add to such truth and wisdom the Paul displays in this verse.
    I ask a question, one we must all answer. What drives your life? Are you still victimized by the never satisfied lust for wealth and the world and its pleasures. Is it me before everyone and everything else. Take time to consider not how I compare to others, but how do I personally operate. Personal reflection must be to no one but Jesus. His motivation, His desire to please was all directed to the the Father and the Father’s will above all else. I have to believe if Jesus was moved by His human side He would not have accomplished what He did. You may believe it is impossible for me to be crucified with Christ, but isn’t that what we have to believe. Jesus represented every person who would believe on Him on the cross. After over 2000 years the blood has not lost one ounce of power and if we believe that He represented me and my sin on the cross then what should that mean to us.   
    I don’t know how He did it, I only know He did it. My faith in that is the key to my spiritual victory, the essence of my now redeemed state in life. What I am, what I believe, my very future is wrapped up in that faith. I believe Jesus did everything well, and I need to believe He expects me to do no less. The Comforter, Holy Spirit, was sent to help me find my way. You see I’m still human but I must follow His will. The ability to recognize His will and the power to walk in the way are all possibilities if my faith is strong to believe that the Spirit will lead me into all truth. This is the way and we must walk in it.
    As is often the case in life we are given choices. The decisions we make are often self centered and that we must overcome. That is only possible when we are lead by His Spirit. As I grow older in age and now retired I have a bit more time to consider such issues. I have learned not to lean on my own understanding for it is human and lacks the direction and depth that only Jesus can provide. I am learning to yield my life, at an every increasing degree, to the Spirits leadership. It can be no other way for as I do this I demonstrate that Christ now lives in Me. Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” I must declare that Jesus and I are one. That’s just how it works, if it is to work at all.
    So dear friend I leave you with this hope that you will seek the fullness of Christ’s spirit working and changing you into His likeness. You say, I can’t do it. I can’t either but Jesus can.

Live in Christ,
Bill