Crucified with Christ
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.
Galatians 2:20
Christ was crucified for our sins, and we were crucified to our sinful nature. We are a new creation in Christ and we die to our sinful life. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Die to self is a process, our hearts may wish to die to our sinful nature, but it takes time to control our sinful fleshly desires and emotions.
When we see ourselves crucified to our sinful nature and let Christ guide our thoughts, words, and actions; we are free from the world. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) We have to be free from self in order to free in this sinful world, and only Christ can set us free. Our spiritual soul is connected to Christ while our flesh lives in the world.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5) If we desire to crucify our flesh then or thoughts must be on the Spirit. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) The more we keep out thoughts on things above the more we live in the Spirit while we minister to the world. It’s though we are living in the Kingdom, looking through the Spirit into the world; and we can be closer to the Lord than we are to the world.
The more we die to self and live for Christ, the better our life becomes, because Christ gives us the best life possible in this world. Only Christ continuously feeds our soul with the blessings from Heaven, and nothing in this world can compare. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21) the Kingdom of God is within us when we keep our spiritual soul in the Spirit, and we do this by keeping our thoughts on things above.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Our body is controlled by the Spirit so that our body brings honor to God. We do this by crucifying our sinful fleshly nature and living for Christ.
Today live for Christ and see the world through the Spirit. Live in the Kingdom and reflect Jesus to the world in everything you do.
Prayer: Lord help me to live in the Kingdom and to control my flesh by the Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen