Have you crucified yourself today? (Gal 2:11-21) 300107
I remembered there was a line in the movie ‘Samurai’ that goes something like this.
The Japanese Emperor asked, ‘Tell me how so-and-so die?’
The reply was, ‘I will not tell you how he died, but I will tell you how he lived.’
At the end of our days, when we meet our Creator and Lord, the question we have to answer is not about how we die, it is about how we have lived our life. Paul exhorted us to live a crucified life (v20). A life which is lived by faith in Christ. Why did he say that to the Galatians?
The Galatians had some issue between the Jewish believers and the Gentiles believers. We must bear in mind that for Jews to accept Gentiles to be saved too, was a great paradigm breakthrough. They were very different in their customs and cultures, therefore there were much conflicts in the early church. But they all understand the core of the faith is justification by faith.
Paul had to once again remind all the believers this, and even to Peter, James and Barnabas. These were great leaders of the early church, they too had fallen into the way of tradition and forgotten the core of their salvation. They were justified by faith, not the by observing the law or tradition.
Sometime, I will think that as long as I go to church regularly, pay my tithe on time, go for cell group Bible study, pray few times a day (before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner), and fast a few times a day (after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner); then I am good enough to be saved and go to heaven. I live a good life. But God is not looking for a good life only. He is looking for a crucified life. A life which crucifed with Christ, a life which I no longer live, a life which Christ lives in me.
How to live a crucified life? Still remember Luke 9:23? Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Christ. It is a daily process. Everyday, we have to crucify our lives again with Christ, allowing Him to crucify our sinfulness, so that we can be righteous before God. Have you being crucified today with Christ? Have you confessed your sin(s) to Christ today? Have you told God about your unforgiveness and leave them on the cross today? Have you let the blood of Christ to take away your guilt today? Have you expressed you faith that God will walk through difficult task with you on the cross today? Have you crucified with Christ today and let Christ lives in you?
