“I am crucified with Christ …” ~ Galatians 2:20
Wherever I [Eugenia Price, the author] have written or spoken of this verse, amazing things have happened to at least some who read or listened. I had decided not to include it among our “pleasant stones,” but just last night, as I finished writing the month of January, a dear friend, one who was just recently come all the way into the Christian life, surprised us by asking my friend Ellen and me to explain Galatians 2:20. I began to think about it again. No-one can explain it.
But anyone can experience it. No-one can explain it and yet, in His time, the Holy Spirit puts within all sincere hearts an overwhelming desire to grasp its true meaning. Do we dare to be literal about it? Do we dare believe the part of us which causes our trouble --- our disposition toward sin --- do we dare believe that was crucified with Christ? We not only dare, we must! This one facet of this crowded verse is perhaps more cutting than any diamond in our entire collection. This same dear friend, had answered her own question without realizing it, as she answered one of her old friends not long ago. When she refused to take part in “another life” amusement, her friend said, “Aw, drop dead!” Lucy replied, “That’s just what I’ve done!” If we believe Christ did a completed work on Cavalry, we must believe also that He included us in it!
But we must not only claim to believe it, we must dare to act as though we do. The next time you want to strike back, remind yourself that a dead man or a dead woman cannot strike back. And if Christ is to be trusted, we were crucified with Him on the Cross, and there is nothing left to do but claim it. Again, we have the Lord’s own word for it:
“… It is finished …”
But anyone can experience it. No-one can explain it and yet, in His time, the Holy Spirit puts within all sincere hearts an overwhelming desire to grasp its true meaning. Do we dare to be literal about it? Do we dare believe the part of us which causes our trouble --- our disposition toward sin --- do we dare believe that was crucified with Christ? We not only dare, we must! This one facet of this crowded verse is perhaps more cutting than any diamond in our entire collection. This same dear friend, had answered her own question without realizing it, as she answered one of her old friends not long ago. When she refused to take part in “another life” amusement, her friend said, “Aw, drop dead!” Lucy replied, “That’s just what I’ve done!” If we believe Christ did a completed work on Cavalry, we must believe also that He included us in it!
But we must not only claim to believe it, we must dare to act as though we do. The next time you want to strike back, remind yourself that a dead man or a dead woman cannot strike back. And if Christ is to be trusted, we were crucified with Him on the Cross, and there is nothing left to do but claim it. Again, we have the Lord’s own word for it:
No comments:
Post a Comment