Thursday, February 10, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Revelation 15-16
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 2:19-21 (NIV); For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
As we look at the life of Paul, we come across many radical statements that he preached and lived. This passage is no exception. Paul had tried the life demanded by the Law, working zealously to earn the acceptance of God through his own efforts, but when compared to Christ the Law on its own held no appeal. Paul considered himself – his efforts and experiences – nailed to the cross alongside Christ. This is what is represented in baptism; when one is dipped under the water, they are being buried with Christ in the likeness of His death – his crucifixion. The resurrection that follows is what allows Paul such joy in saying, now “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Living in cherished relationship with the One who upholds the universe is worth the crucifixion of selfish desires. The frustration of self-effort and self-righteousness is a welcomed loss when we realize the grace of God and the righteousness He gives us.
When we continue to pursue our self interests and to work out of our own efforts after we have accepted God’s grace, we really do act as though Christ died for nothing. To live our lives on our own accord without thought of our Lord is to desecrate the cross.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a deeper understanding of Paul’s words in this passage. Read over it a few times and listen in prayer about it. How accurately does Paul’s experience describe your own?
2) Ask God to show you if there are any areas in which you are judging yourself too harshly? Where are you looking to compare yourself to some outside laws rather than on God’s ideas of you?
3) What are you holding onto today that needs to be nailed to the cross so that you can be fully in Christ? Perhaps it’s an attitude about a coworker, bitterness towards a friend, etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to forgive and find peace in the situation.
