Living the Best Life

When Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live," we would have expected him to have said, "I am crucified...and I am dead."
Instead, he said, "I am crucified," and then added, "and the life I live...."
When we are crucified with Christ, there is an "I" that died but also an "I" that lives.

The "I" that died wanted to please self-
            the "I" that lives wants to please God
The "I" that died loved to be leader-
            the "I" that lives wants to be servant
The "I" that died wanted to be noticed-
            the "I" that lives wants God to receive glory
The "I" that died was full of self-
            the "I" that lives is emptied of all but Christ.

Christ said, "I will come and live My life through you. Others will look at you and see Me!" But believers who have not been crucified with Christ find themselves unable to say with Jesus, "I seek not to do my own will." Before we can say those words and mean them as truly as He did, we must die to our own desires.

Thank You, Jesus, that Paul taught us that it is possible to experience the glorious freedom of living crucified.

"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" (Galatians 2:20).
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24).

Aletha