Wednesday 22 August 2012
- Bible Book:
- Galatians
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is 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." (vv. 19, 20)
Background
The first section of today's passage is Paul arguing with Peter.The argument centres around identity, and this leads into Paul'splea to the Galatians around the same theme.
The message Paul wants to get across is summed up in verses19-20: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer Iwho live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now livein the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me andgave himself for me."
Paul argues that, as Christians, our identity lies in Christ.For us to find that identity, we have to be "crucified withChrist". We have to give up everything, and surrender ourselves toGod and to what God's will is for us.
A famous part of the Easter story is Jesus in the Garden ofGethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Jesus takes his disciplesalong to keep watch and goes off a little further to pray on hisown. Clearly Jesus is troubled by what is to come, who wouldn't beat the thought of crucifixion! But, despite that, he says thosefamous words; "Yet not what I want, but what you want" (
An important part of discipleship is finding our identity. Andto find our identity in Christ we must use those famous words: "Yetnot what I want, but what you want".
To ponder:
- Are there times where you've felt like Jesus in Gethsemane? Doyou react the same way? Why?
- What defines your identity?