LEARNING DAILY

Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In Galatians 2, Paul is writing about how the Believer is made right with God. There were false teachers telling those in Galatia that faith in Christ alone was not enough to be right with God. They were telling the people that as Believers they needed to be circumcised and become Jewish. In Galatians 2:15-16, “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

In verse 20, Paul writes about the motive for going to the cross: He loves you and He loves me! Unlike those who are strict in following a rigid system of laws, Christ was motivated by His love for all people. Will you take some time to really consider this. Jesus Christ gave His life for you! He took away your sins by taking your punishment for your sins so you could take His righteousness. Paul had tried to keep the Law; he thought that would please God. The problem for Paul was the more he tried to keep the Law, he saw how much he failed. Believers today who try to live righteously on their own find they fail. Just as Paul realized he needed to give up trying to be righteous on his own, believers need to do that and accept the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. Then one can truly begin living for God.

Galatians 2:20 is a message for every Believer today to examine who he/she is living for. What is driving you? What is your motivation? Are you driven or motivated by personal ambitions? Are you driven to climb the “corporate ladder”? Or are you driven to live in such a way that Jesus Christ in you is being reflected by what you do and how you talk? This verse reflects Luke 9:23 where Jesus tells His disciples and us that we are to die to self. Paul is writing that Believers are to realize their old selves have been crucified with Jesus, and it is no longer them that live but Christ who lives in them. This emphasizes the significance and importance of surrendering the Believer’s desires, ambitions, and their will to what God desires in their lives.

So, what desire and motivation is pushing you today – pleasing yourself or honoring Jesus Christ? Living a life pleasing and honoring Him involves selflessness, humility, seeking to walk the narrow way in obedience, and a desire to glorify God. It involves seeking to walk daily as Jesus did, to love others as He did, and to serve selflessly in His name. Remain rooted in Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and transform you! Let go of yourself allowing Him to lead you and see how it brings peace and purpose to your heart.