Die Daily

Gal.6:¹⁴ “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.”

Two things from yesterday’s devotional that we must not forget are;

1. When the life of Christ is “received”, then it “forms” in us and then it “performs” through us.
2. The distinguishing mark of the Christian life is not perfection. The distinguishing mark is an on-going fight against anything that dims the life of Jesus in us.

You can bank on the fact that between now and the time you see Jesus, you are going to disappoint yourself. What do you do when that happens? Are you going to be a pig that stays in the mud or are you going to be a sheep that will not rest until it gets rid of the mud? What is it going to be? This on-going fight happens and is sustained not with will power, or with physical weapons but with the power of Christ in us.

I can confidently say like Paul said, “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” [with emphasis]. Paul is pointing out to us in this Scripture that we have an interest in the world and the world has an interest in us. But both the interest in the world and the world’s interest in us can be crucified.

What was Paul referring to when he talked about an interest in the world? He was talking about legitimate things and not necessarily sinful pleasures. Things like a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back, and money to take care of your family. It could even be your child or your spouse. Your interest in the world is anything you have in this world that you cannot take to heaven when you die. The car you broke people’s marriages to buy, are you going to drive it to the gates of heaven? That is not going to happen. Paul is saying even though he has interests in the world, he has crucified them.

In other words, he is dead to such interests. You and I have to die to our interests in the world and that can be really challenging. If you place anything in your life before The Cross, things you cannot take with you to heaven, you are setting yourself up for destruction.

Prayer: Father, may I never boast in anything except the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. May my interest in the world be crucified daily, in Jesus Name. Amen!