(reworked from earlier)
SCRIPTURE: Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
OBSERVATION: Verse 21 stirs two very strong thoughts, the weakness of the law and the power of the cross. It also leads me to consider how important my righteousness is to God. It is so important that He sent His Son to die in payment for sin! Amazing!
The battle was won on the cross! It was there that the price was paid. It was there that Jesus won over the temptation of trying an easier way. It was there that the power of Satan’s temptation to move outside the will of the Father was defeated! Jesus would not give in to the devil’s temptation to move other than in His Father’s will!
Jesus entered death as The Triumphant One. He entered the grave as The Victorious One! He came out as More than a Conqueror! The three days in the grave was the victory lap taken after the race had been won!
APPLICATION: Verse 20 says I am crucified. My life is dead. I now live the life of Christ within me. His life has already won victory over death and the grave. That is the life by which I live! In me is His victorious life!
God wants children who will serve Him because they love Him. Selfish children do good things because they want some reward. But for those who love Him, serving Him is the reward!! They consider it a privilege to bring joy to God’s heart. They are not looking for more reward than they have already received—their salvation.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, continually remind me that I am living by God’s grace. It is not depending on my ability to keep the law but depending on the Christ life within me who has already kept the law! Amen
Pastor Leon
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