Grow: First Steps with JesusSample

A NEW WAY OF LIVING

Today, we will continue to talk about the idea of life. Let’s look at one of the most famous scriptures in the New Testament.

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. 

The foundation of the above Scripture is in the last line: ‘Jesus loves me and He gave Himself up for me.’  If this then is God’s foundation of His initiative to me, how am I to react then? 

Paul speaks to the church of Galatia here, stipulating that he has been crucified with Christ. OK, wait a bit here. How could he be crucified if he is still breathing and very much alive! What was he saying? I believe he refers to a life that is surrendered to Jesus.

In my own experience, I have discovered that when you become engulfed with God’s love for you, in response to that love, you would also want to live for Him. I certainly want to lay down my life for Him. 

Jesus paid the price and each one of us were included in that sacrifice. This brings clarity to Paul’s statement: ‘I no longer live’. His entire life was surrendered to the purposes and values of Jesus. Remember that Paul was a business owner and an ordinary man. He refers to his normal existence when he says: ‘This life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God’. 

Today is an extremely important day on our journey to grow in a relationship with Jesus. He is not just our Saviour, Jesus is also our Lord. “Lord” implies that He is our owner. This is a very important term in the Bible. It suggests that every part of our lives belong to Him and we live with Him but we also live for Him. 

To allow Jesus to be "Lord of our lives" simply means that every decision of what we do and how we do it is measured by this question: Will this decision be pleasing to the Lord? 

Today is a day of surrender. Are you ready to allow God to become the anchor of your Life?

Daily Affirmation: "Lord Jesus, I know that You love me, therefore I want to live for You."

Action Step for Today: List your responsibilities and core relationships. That is where the values of Jesus will become evident.