Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Jesus said to pick up your cross and follow me. For years I struggled to carry my cross and tried hard to figure out what that meant. How do I practically carry my execution device around with me all day long? Was it to let people walk all over me?
Was it to degrade myself as a lowly sinner and continually confess my sins? Was it to berate myself with an I’m just a lousy sinner mentality?
Was it to believe that I was an unworthy worm deserving of condemnation and hell? No! Why would Father pay the highest price for garbage? Father so loved us that He sent His Son. Not to have a religion with us but to have close intimate relations with us.
So close in fact that the third Person of the Holy Trinity was sent to inhabit us. The Holy Spirit can’t dwell in unclean temples. So how then can He dwell in a nasty sinner? He can not and does not. He dwells in Father’s beloved children. He is happy to dwell in us and desires to communicate with us nonstop.
Changing our views on how our flesh is crucified brings about great transformation. So back to carrying your cross. It is the identity that Christ affords us that we need to carry through our agreement and our belief system. How do we practically do that?
By taking thoughts captive and ending false humility. Let’s drop the I’m a sinner mentality like a hot rock and choose to believe what the Father says in His Word is absolute truth. It is make-believe to ascertain that our flesh is alive and well and thwarting our transformation.
It is a lie to believe that we are dirty filthy sinners. It is false humility to come before Father in prayer proclaiming we are unworthy. He has made us worthy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. So how do we pick up our crosses.
By believing that we are crucified with Christ and that our old nature is dead and it is being imitated by the dark forces in this world to try and convince us that it is still alive, but that is in direct conflict with this scripture. Is our flesh crucified or not? It is up to us to decide to agree with eternity’s reality.
Sinner or saint? You choose!
Father, I am blown away by Your unfathomable grace and mercy. I’m so grateful that You have transferred me from darkness to light. I am a new creation and the old man is dead. It is not part of who I am to be drawn into temptation. I’m so grateful that You have removed my old flesh completely. I will walk in great confidence and communicate with the in-dwelling Holy Spirit more and more. I will listen to Your voice and I will hear You speak. I’m forever grateful. I love You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Written by Keith Murphy
