Live and Breathe
“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.” Galatians 2:20
Insight
Paul, who was Saul, was a man that despised Christians. He was on a mission to stop the message of Jesus Christ and was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. But one day, Paul encountered Jesus, and everything changed. Paul went from persecuting and hating to leading the charge of sharing the good news of Jesus. Galatians is a letter written by Paul to the people of Galatia to help them understand God’s grace. In chapter 2, Paul states that it is no longer he who lives but Christ in him. Paul was no longer who he used to be, he had been made new through Jesus, and he was eager for the people of Galatia to understand that. He wanted them to understand the fullness of life that he now had because of Christ. His life was now defined by Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross. He was no longer living for what felt right or what was easiest, or what culture encouraged; instead, Paul was living by faith in the Son of God.
I would say I grew up knowing of God; I attended VBS and summer camps. My family attended church when we weren’t busy with sports and dance competitions, and I enjoyed being around people at church. They were always nice and I remember lots of fun and lots of potlucks. We played plenty of games and learned about helping others. But if I am honest, I didn’t grasp the weight of what God did for me and why it mattered. Unlike Paul’s story, mine isn’t that I was against God; I more so just never experienced the fullness of life with God.
For the majority of my life, I did what seemed like the most fun. I was responsible and did the things I needed to do, but I lived for the next adventure, chasing a way to fulfill whatever desire I felt in that moment. When the church became less convenient, and my Sundays were more easily filled with hanging at the beach or meeting up with friends, I found myself less and less involved with the church. I didn’t hate the church; it just didn’t matter to me, and God was more of something I knew of than someone I walked with. This pattern continued for several years. At times I would be slightly more connected, while other times, it had been months since I even thought about church.
At some point, I started wrestling with who God was. I had friends that seemed to live and breathe Jesus. He was a part of everything they did, and something about it made me want to know more. I wasn’t unhappy with my life, but I was curious about what compelled others never to miss a Sunday. I distinctly remember the day in mid-May when I truly understood. I had been seeking God for some time, but the lens I saw life through shifted that day. It was no longer the things of this world that I was chasing; it was no longer the next adventure or whatever desire popped into my head. It was no longer me but Christ living in me. Sure, I have desires and hopes and doubts, but I now live by faith that Jesus Christ, who gave Himself up for me on the cross, knows and loves me. He directs my steps and my thoughts, and He is the lens through which I live my life rather than something that crosses my mind now and then. Instead of Jesus being something I knew about, He became the One that lives in and through me. It is no longer me, but Christ living in me.
Reflection
What parts of your heart need to be crucified? What would it look like to live by faith in this area?
Prayer
God, Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for loving me personally and giving Yourself upon the cross for my sins. Thank you for Your grace and patience and for always being present and making me a new creation. I pray for You to continue to work and shape and mold me as I continue to put my faith in You. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Port City’s Children’s Ministry Home Coordinator, wrote today’s devotional.
