Crucified!

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. GALATIANS 5:24 AMP

It has always been said that your ownership determines your priorities. It doesn't matter how long you succeed in deceiving other people or getting away with compromise; the quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your connections. There are big differences between hearing/reading about something and knowing that thing. Knowledge is strengthened by personal experience and the more you learn, the deeper the connection. That's how it is with the Christian experience.

Today's extract is targeted at those who understand who they are and who they belong to. It is not about who you think you are, but who you really are. You may attempt self deception, and also succeed in deceiving others for a while, but the One who owns all hearts cannot be deceived. He demands a standard that his grace alone can sustain, and all who come to him in true surrender enjoy that grace in full measure. If I claim I belong to Christ, my life must show this in true measure. What is demanded of me: all of the old nature and self must be crucified. Sounds easy? The old nature has demands. It will task my decision to follow Christ and reject the world. It will make it appear I made a mistake to reject the world. It would make it seem that the old way was better.

At no time can I succeed in this Christian experience all by myself. The power to live right isn't in me, and at no time am I expected to do it all alone. God promises grace, help and mercy as I depend on him daily to live right. Back to the basic truth: do I know who I am and who I belong to? The two extremes: Christ and Self cannot coexist and function in the same life. One must give way to the other. Both choices have eternal consequences. What would it be for me? His time of favour is here.