No Longer I, But Christ

Scripture:  Galatians 2:20 -  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.

The banana tree is sturdy and resilient even if it looks weak.  Unbelievable as it seems to be, no fire or typhoon can kill it.  Even if one cuts its body into a thousand pieces, it still can survive.  The only way by which a banana tree can be prevented from growing again is to uproot it completely.

Me, myself and I – the one who had control of my life.  My goals, my plans and my dreams of how I wanted my life to be or rather how I thought it should be. But then one day it was uprooted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was no longer about me, but about Christ – He was now in control and His plans had already been established before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.)

What or who is trying to hinder your growth? Is it the fires of adversities like you’ve never experienced before (I Pet. 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”) Or are you able to testify as Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”?  These perilous times will make you feel like the banana tree – cut up into a thousand pieces, yet you are still here because you have been crucified with Christ and the work He began He said that He will complete until the day of Jesus Christ. You may go through changes emotionally, physically and spiritually, but you can’t be uprooted because you have been sealed until the day of redemption. Let the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has made His abode in you establish, settle and strengthen you in these last days.

Prayer:  Precious Father, I am so glad that You are true to Your Holy Word which will never return void. Thank You for the eternal investment You are making in me for Your glory and Your eternal purposes. Thank You for keeping me even when I didn’t want to be kept.

(by Cheryl Torain)