Christ In Me

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"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." —Galatians 2:20

Bible Reading

GALATIANS 2:15-21

Devotional

Salvation is a very personal matter. Yet you cannot possess it privately, outside the church of the redeemed.

When it comes to salvation, it is not always easy to find the right balance between the personal and the communal. But it is certainly true that nobody is saved by a general knowledge of sin and grace. We must know sin and salvation personally. If we don't, we know neither one.

Usually Paul talks about we and us and ours when he speaks of salvation. But here he becomes personal. He talks about I and me and mine.

"I no longer live," he says. Do notice, however, that when he tells how he was saved, he speaks of the cross that stood on Golgotha. "I have been crucified with Christ." There the old power was broken, and he became free to serve God.

The new life is described in this way: "Christ lives in me." That's the redeemed state. Anyone who was included in Christ's death and resurrection can say something about this new impulse: Christ is in us. That does not mean that the "I" disappears. You keep your personality. Paul still talks about "the life I now live in the body." But this life is lived unto God. Paul lives it "by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Everyone who knows the self-giving love of the Savior knows this new kind of life. "He loves me!" Yes, he loves you too. But now allow me to say: "He loves me!" He gave himself for sinners, yes, thousands of them, but now allow me to confess: "He gave himself for mel"

Christ dominates my life. He rules my inner being. A friendly guide may help you out of the maze of the city to the expressway and then say: "From here on you're on your own." But that's not the way Christ saves. He saves to renew. He stays in us to reach for others. Grace flows through us because Christ lives in us.

REFLECTIONS

Reflect on how Christ loves you, died for you, and lives in you. Then give thanks.

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Praise God for salvation. This is such a good topic to discuss because like it said, its hard to find a good medium ground for the personal and the communal, with regard to salvation. I've spoke to many people who say their relationship with God is personal and that they don't like to flaunt it or talk about it very openly because its between them and God. On one hand, I can totally understand, because I think our relationship with God is very vulnerable and intimate. At least it should be!

It should be more intimate and personal than any other relationship we have in this world. Unfortunately, I can say for myself, that I have not completely gotten to that point in my life. For example: I have a much more vulnerable and intimate relationship with my husband, when in reality - Bud doesn't know everything about me, even though I'm honest with Him. He doesn't know my thoughts and all of my wants and desires. God does. So its kind of silly that I don't allow myself to be as openly intimate with my Heavenly Fathers as I do with my earthly husband. So when speaking of Salvation, its important to always remember that it is the most intimate and beautiful gift we can be given. Better than anything else in the world and its very personal. We may share the same gift with thousands of others, but your salvation is YOURS and no one can take it from you. EVER! How amazing is that!

On the other hand, we are to share the Gospel with those around us, as by the hearing of the Gospel leads to repentance and the salvation of other souls as well. So while I can understand the statement "My relationship with God is personal", I also understand that we are to be a light unto the world and not hide it under any bushel. The world needs to hear of the wonderful gift God has bestowed upon His children, in hopes that many will come to repentance by receiving the gift of faith and salvation. So we can't keep our relationship with God solely to ourselves, we just need to find that middle ground.

But how exciting is it, to be able to rejoice in the Lord, knowing that our Salvation is a gift that God picked specifically for you! Oh Lord, thank you for giving me the gift of faith and saving me! I am so blessed that I can share this gift with so many others, those that are apart of your universal body. But I am so glad that I can call you MINE! I can call you MY Father, MY God, My Lord! Thank you for meeting me in my own individual state and saving me and guiding me in the will that you have chosen for me. Please help me to stay to that straight and narrow path and continue on growing in the grace and knowledge of Your Son. Thank you for being in ME! I love you, Lord. We love you. Amen!