CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

My teenage granddaughter left on a mission trip to El Salvador this morning.  Before leaving she posted the following verse on Instagram along with a request for prayer for their trip.

Galatians 2:20 “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.”

This is a verse it would do every Christian well to memorize.  To be a follower of Jesus is to be willing to die to this world in expectation of the world that is to come.  As we navigate the trials and temptations of this world, we should choose to yield to Christ in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.  We know that we are yielding to the Spirit when we see the evidence of the fruit He produces in and through us.

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Ephesians 5:9 “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”

We can only do this through faith in the Son of God.  Faith in this context is a faith based on reason and the evidence abundant in the creation all around us.

Hebrews 11:1–3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen….Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Psalms 19:1–3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

Romans 1:18–20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse….”

What a beautiful truth in the last part of the verse; Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me!  Because He loved me so unconditionally and sacrificially, I can look forward to living in His presence forever as joint-heir of all that is His in the Father.

Romans 8:14–17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

I can’t wait!  Come Lord Jesus!