Devotional Thoughts of the Day – please discuss!

²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) 

 The Cross symbolizes the life of an apostle of Christ, with a strength and a truth that delight both soul and body, though sometimes it is hard, and we can feel its weight. (1)

Often among those I study with,  we talk about the baptized life, about living our lives in view of the fact that we have been united to Him in our baptism.  That because of that action,sin has been separated from our lives, that we live in the presence of God.  It is a pretty powerful thought.

I was thinking today as well though – when we are baptized into Chirst, we are baptized into His death – we are spiritually there on the cross, with our sins.  We have, Romans 6 and Colossians 2 tell us, died with Jesus, there on the cross.   That we may live – that we are living, with Him – the crucified one.  We live a baptized life, yes – but we are baptized into a crucified life.  We bear His cross, and in doing so take on something wonderful, something both practical and yet, in a way quite mystical and taxes our soul and our intellect.

It is not easy to live a crucified life – to live in view of the incredible love and mercy of God, to be reminded that we need, we should reflect that love. And we need to realize that the forgiveness we receive, is available to all.  Especially to those who are our enemies and adversaries.   To realize, with the love of Christ, that they need this love, this mercy, that they need the reconciliation that is available at the cross.

It is an incredible delight – and a weight at the same time, because even as we know the lifting of our own burdens – we take on a burden to see others freed from the snare of sin and satan and the fear of death… and the bondage that guilt or shame brings.  Indeed, Paul found himself weeping and deeply grieving for those who would reject such.

So my friends, live as one who has been crucified.. for you have…with Christ.  May your life reflect and reveal the very life you have in Christ now.. and may that reflection draw others to Him!

Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2734-2736). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.