‘Christ lives in me.’ Galatians 2:20 NIV
If you could change through self-effort, you wouldn’t need the Lord. Plus, any attempt on your part to earn His grace disqualifies you. Why is that? Because you’re striving to be the source of your own salvation, or your own significance, or your own strength. If you want to know what really upsets God—that will do it every time! ‘So how on earth am I supposed to become more Christlike?’ you ask. Die to ‘self’ and allow Christ to live through you! Take a moment to ponder these Scriptures: ‘Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God. Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to death because the old sinful nature within us is against God. It never did obey God’s laws and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, bent on following their old evil desires, can never please God. But you are not like that… if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in you, He will make your dying bodies live again after you die, by means of this same Holy Spirit living within you.’ (Romans 8:5–11 TLB)
How can you tell that Christ is alive and working in you? When others look at you they will see Him. When they listen to you they will hear Him. And when they walk with you they will be following Him. ‘How long does it take to become Christlike?’ you ask. It happens a day at a time, over a lifetime.
SoulFood: Matt 1, Matt 2
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2024
