I was walking by some railroad tracks in my hometown and found some old railroad spikes. I picked them up because they looked awesome! Looking at them I had a brief vision of nails being driven into the hands and feet of Jesus. Then holding them in my hand, just really took my breath away. The Lord has been bringing me back to Galatians 2:20 a lot this week, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. It says, “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.” To make this metaphor even greater, I found exactly three of them. I can’t look at these railroad nails the same ever again.
I have realized that I am not a naturally holy person. I am not naturally compassionate, understanding, caring, hopeful, or joyful. I am a sinner, and a human. Therefore, Christ-like behavior isn’t innate, not until after you are born again, so it is inherited.
Because I am a Christ follower, putting on Christ-like behavior is made possible, it is just not made easy. But that is okay! Yes, it is a struggle, but doesn’t that make it all the more worth it when you come out victorious? When you actually find joy in the extremely tough situations, or love for the people who are rude to you, it is progress! It’s Christ!
For the longest time I thought that because Christ-like behavior was difficult for me, that I was a bad Christian. It isn’t easy because we are human! We have our flesh wanting to do something completely opposite of what the Lord wants us to do. We have to choose to “put on the full armor of God” (Eph 6:11). We have to choose to act the way Jesus would, even when the world is doing something completely different.
I have to DAILY walk in Christ-like behavior. Literally, DAILY. All the time. I have to choose joy and choose forgiveness. I have to purposefully pick up my Bible and spend time with the Lord, even when I really just want to watch Netflix. I have to love on the people who I really would rather ignore. I have to choose to always put God first. Purposefully.
When I don’t, for me, I allow God to slip into 2nd place in my life, and I can tell a difference in myself. My tolerance level takes a nose-dive, loving people is harder for me, and it is harder to find my joy. I am meant to literally live out what Matthew 16:24 says: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
I will never look at Galatians 2:20 the same again. The Lord really put that verse into perspective for me. I am no longer alive. That means all my fleshy feelings like anger and indifference are dead as well. Christ lives in me, therefore his behavior lives in me as well. Forever. I just have to choose to act like He does.
Until next time!
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