“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Heavenly Father, between one and 17 times a day, I need to be reminded of how I got into your story of redemption, stay there, and will live there forever—only and fully by your grace. I’m not talking about knowing this to be true theologically—I’m settled and certain about that. I’m talking about knowing the Gospel, you, and Jesus personally and emotionally. I’ve got the “creed” down pat; but my “awe-struck-wonder” comes and goes. Abba, I want more come and less go.
Meditating on Galatians 2:20, I am encouraged, convicted, and enthralled with how palpably real Jesus was to Paul. “The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me”—Paul’s humility, joy, and astonishment seep and flow through this one verse… Abba, I’m not looking for “warm fuzzies,” simply to be “fired-up” again or have an emotional/spiritual high.
I just don’t want to remember, teach, preach, or write the Gospel without feeling humbled, grateful, and in awe. The Gospel isn’t true to the extent that I feel it; but because it is true I want to feel it more deeply, more of the time. I don’t want to just grow old; I want to grow old and be filled with childlike wonder in response to the Gospel. Abba, you are the God from whom all blessings flow and I want to live as one of your children through whom daily praise is given. So Very Amen.
