Christ Lives In Me

Date: February 23, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would help me to daily surrender myself to You, so that I can experience the new life that You have for me. I ask that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me the strength to live according to Your will.

Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and giving me new life in You. May I always remember Your sacrifice and live my life in a way that honors You.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

Galatians 2:20 is part of a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Galatians. The letter is believed to have been written around AD 49-55, making it one of Paul's earliest letters. The Galatians were a group of churches located in the region of Galatia, which is in modern-day Turkey.

The purpose of the letter was to address some of the false teachings that were being spread among the Galatian churches, some people were teaching that in order to be saved, you needed to follow the Jewish law and be circumcised. Paul strongly opposed this teaching, arguing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through obedience to the law.

Galatians 2:20 is part of a larger section of the letter in which Paul defends his authority as an apostle and describes his confrontation with Peter over the issue of Jewish law. In the verse, Paul is explaining that he has been crucified with Christ, meaning that his old way of life has been put to death and he now lives a new life in Christ. This new life is characterized by faith in the Son of God, who loved him and gave himself for him.

Study and Savor – Key Words

"Crucified with Christ": This phrase refers to the spiritual union that believers have with Christ, who died on the cross for their sins. By being "crucified with Christ," believers are acknowledging that their old way of life, characterized by sin and separation from God, has been put to death, and that they now live a new life in Christ.

"Christ lives in me": This phrase emphasizes the indwelling presence of Christ in the life of the believer. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are able to experience the presence of Christ in their daily lives, guiding them and empowering them to live according to God's will.

"The life I now live in the body": This phrase acknowledges the reality that believers still live in a physical body, with all of its limitations and temptations. However, through faith in Christ, believers are able to live a new life, characterized by obedience to God and a desire to please Him.

"I live by faith in the Son of God": This phrase is a central theme of the letter to the Galatians, and emphasizes the idea that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than through adherence to the Jewish law or other human efforts. By placing their trust in Christ, believers are able to experience new life and freedom from the power of sin.

Summarize and Share

This verse speaks to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. It tells us that when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, something amazing happens - we are no longer the same person we used to be. In fact, the Bible says that we are "crucified with Christ," which means that our old way of life is put to death, and we are given a new life in Him.

This new life is not just a better version of our old life - it is something entirely different. We are no longer bound by the power of sin, but are free to live according to God's will. The Bible says that "Christ lives in me," which means that we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, guiding us and helping us to live a life that honors God.

Spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. Ask Him to reveal to you the areas in your life where you need to experience transformation and surrender your will to His.

Practice surrendering your old ways to God daily. Whenever you are faced with a temptation to return to your old way of life, pray and ask God to help you resist it and to trust in His power to overcome it.

Meditate on the truth that Christ lives in you. Remember that you are not alone in this journey - the Holy Spirit is with you, guiding you and empowering you to live a life that honors God.

Share your faith with others. As you experience the transformation that comes from putting your faith in Christ, share your story with others and invite them to experience the same new life that you have found.

Remember that the journey of faith is a lifelong process of growth and transformation. Don't be discouraged if you struggle or make mistakes along the way. Trust in God's grace and His power to transform you, and continue to follow Him one step at a time.

Bible Cross Reference

Romans 6:6-7 - "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin." This passage reinforces the idea that when we put our faith in Christ, our old self is put to death and we are given a new life in Him.

Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse echoes the idea that Christ lives in us, and emphasizes that He is the source of our hope and our transformation.

Galatians 5:24 - "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." This passage emphasizes the need for us to continually put to death our sinful desires and to live a life that is pleasing to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This verse emphasizes the transformative power of faith in Christ, and emphasizes that we are no longer the same person we used to be once we put our faith in Him.