Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Do you ever find it hard to be quiet and listen as a part of your quiet time. It is hard for me to focus my mind on God alone, clearing out every other thought and distraction, taking the time to just be and listen.  But I try. It’s helpful to pray and ask God to help me with clearing my mind of everything but Him. One day last week, as I was attempting to be quiet and listen, the above passage came to mind. Since God brought this passage to my mind, I decided to spend some time thinking about what it meant.  Here is what God showed me.

“Crucified with Christ”-what does this really mean? The crucifixion of Christ was a public event.  It involved ridicule, shame, torture and what had to have been unimaginable pain. Crucifixion  was slow, hour after hour hanging on a cross for all to see. Some of those watching continued to hurl insults, while others cried and looked on, unsure of what to do or say.  Crucifixion always ends in death. Death is always hard, not only on the person dying but also on those who love and care for the dying person. Death also brings separation. Quite possibly the most difficult aspect of death to accept.  Jesus was surrounded by people at His crucifixion, but utterly alone at the same time. He even cries out “My God, my God why have you forsaken me!” Matthew 27:46.  This was unimaginable pain of a different kind.

The death of Jesus was necessary.  It was God’s plan all along, providing the One sacrifice that would be sufficient. Death was and is necessary to bring new life. Jesus chose to be obedient to His Father.  We know it was a choice of obedience by his prayer in the garden before his arrest “if possible take this cup from me, but not as I will, but as you will” Matthew 26:39.

The scripture says “I have been crucified with Christ”.  That means, that I also must be put to death.  While none of us are facing crucifixion on a cross when we make the choice to follow Jesus, we are making the choice to allow ourselves to be crucified with Him. Just like Christ, our death will be painful.  It very well may involve many of the same things Jesus faced: physical pain, suffering, ridicule, shame, separation, etc.. Death is always hard! We complain and question,while we struggle through the emotional angst of not wanting to stay the same, but also not wanting to lose what we have (people, position, possessions). Of course it’s hard-we are being crucified!  

The verse goes on to say “it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives in me”.  The passage in Luke 14:26-27 comes to mind: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” If you continue reading the passage, it talks about counting the cost of being a disciple. The biggest cost to any of us in choosing to follow Jesus is that we give up all rights to ourselves.  We must willing relinquish control of all aspects of our life.

It would be pretty easy to get stuck in the ugliness of death, but we need to remember a couple of extremely important facts.  First, we are not alone, and never will be. While it may feel like everyone around us has abandoned us or doesn’t understand-Jesus does and He is always here.  “With Christ” that is what it says, what Jesus went through alone we go through with Him.  I forget that part too easily. Jesus tells us in John 10:28 that “no one can snatch us out of His hand.”  He knows what we’re going through and how we feel because He has been there.  He has gone before us in the crucifixion thing.  And just like it was necessary for Him to die, it is necessary for you and me to die as well.  Yes, the reasons are different but both necessary. Death brings new life! New is better than old.  Here is the second thing-”Christ lives in me”.  Guys, Christ lives in us! Christ- the One who defeated death, conquered sin and made a way for us-that Christ lives inside of everyone one of us who chooses to follow and obey Him!  

Paul closes out this verse by saying “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The death of our old lives has brought this new life that we can now live.  I get this visual image of me hanging on to and dragging around my old dead self, while trying to live for Jesus.  It keeps getting in the way, it’s old, dead, disgusting. Not mention hard to carry around. Why not just go ahead and kick it to the curb and jump all the way in to the new life I have been promised?  That is where the faith part comes in. Faith-believing, trusting, following, obeying even when you don’t understand and can’t see where you are going. Not knowing the why, what, when or how of our lives is hard.  But “The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” and there is just no getting around that truth.  I/we owe a debt that can never be repaid. Isn’t it awesome that we don’t have to!

Oswald Chambers said “Never allow God to show you a truth that you don’t begin to live up to, applying it to your life.  Always work through it, staying in it’s light.” That is what this passage and this day of listening did for me. It showed me a truth, one that I need to do a better job of applying in my daily living. I hope and pray that this will bless you as well.