September 1, 2023 - Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. I don't live any longer. Christ lives in me. My faith in the Son of God helps me to live my life in my body. He loved me. He gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV

Lord, help us learn what it means to crucify ourselves, so that is not we who live, but you who lives in us. Roy Hession says this in his book Calvary Road, “The Lord Jesus cannot live in us fully and reveal Himself through us until the proud self within us is broken. This simply means that the hard unyielding self – which justifies itself, wants its own way, stands up for its right and seeks its own glory - at last bows its head to God’s will, admits it’s wrong, gives up its own way to Jesus, surrenders its rights and discards its own glory.” He goes on to say, “Anything that springs from self, however small it may be, is sin. Self-energy or self-complacency in service is sin. As is self-pity in trials or difficulties; self-seeking in business or Christian work; self-indulgence in one’s spare time; sensitiveness, touchiness, resentment, and self-defense when we’re hurt or injured by others; self-consciousness, reserve, worry or fear. They all spring from self, are all sin and all make our cups unclean.”

Oh, Jesus, the sorrow that fills me as I read this. We are so full of sin. Forgive us for giving these sins a place in us. Forgive us for not even seeing most of these things as sin but allowing them to stay in our lives. Even thinking of them as sin makes us uncomfortable. But it is our selfishness that is uncomfortable. Jesus, teach us how to truly crucify ourselves, so that our selfishness no longer lives. We need your help for this. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see our selfishness. Convict us and give us a hatred for anything that hinders your presence from being able to fully inhabit us. Help us learn to desire your presence more than our selfishness.

In Jesus name, amen.