justify

“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, I live by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Galatians 2:20-21 ESV

Our faith no longer depends on what we can do for God, but on what God has already done for us.

Have you ever wondered why one critical comment can alter the entire day? Why do we worry about our job performance, financial status or what other people think about us?

If we’re being honest, fear is the driving force. The gospel says we have been justified by faith in Christ alone, yet throughout the course of our lives, we drift further away from this truth. We seek to medicate our insufficiency with our bank accounts, success and social media following rather than rest in God’s free gift of grace (Gal 2:16, Ro 5:8). 

Beloved, you are free. We have been chosen and grafted into the family of God,  so why do we often live as orphans begging for bread? When Christ died on the cross, we died to the law. We are alive in Christ, perfectly united with His victory and righteousness.

Return to the gospel again and again and again. Knowing our identity in Christ helps us rise above our social vanities, pride and need to impress others. Paul writes, “The life I now live is by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave his life for me.” This is the truest thing about you—this is your about me profile— “Christ died for me and in Him I live.”

If we claim Christ as our Savior and yet justify ourselves with this week’s idol of choice, we diminish the very power grace has to transform our lives.

Loosen your grip on this world. Tighten your grip on grace. God delights in you. He has purpose for you. You were His decision. He proved it when Jesus laid his life down and clothed us in his perfect righteousness that we might give our entire lives to Him.

With love,
Makenzi

additional reading:

John 3:16, 15:13, 1 John 4:9-10, Romans 5:20, 2 Corinthians 5:15

reflect:

The God who loves you says, “you have been crucified with Christ, you are alive in Christ.” Spend 10-15 minutes meditating on Galatians 2:20. Memorize it. Seek to make this personal. Christ gave his life for you. Christ loved you from the beginning of time. Let this truth sink deep down into your soul and then journal how this truth impacts your life. 

centering prayer:

LORD, my identity rests secure in Your love. May the truth of the gospel wash over me today as I rest in the gift of Your grace. amen.