Day 31 - Dear God, I'm Yours! (Galatians 2:1-21)

I don't mean to brag, but I have Rick Florian's autograph.  

At this point, I'll pause so you can ask, "Who in the world is Rick Florian?"

No matter.

But he signed a shirt for me once, and after his name, he wrote, "Galatians 2:20."  This verse is part of today's Bible passage.

2:20 reads, " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

With that autograph and Scripture, he made it clear that nobody needs to remember Rick Florian or what famous thing he did or where I met him.

What's most important is that Christ lives in Rick.  And, if I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ and desire to follow Him completely - then Christ lives in Gary.  

And Christ will live in you.  Later on in that verse, Jesus is described as the one who "loved me and gave himself up for me." 

I couldn't be perfect, so Jesus gave me His own life as an example.

I couldn't gain a righteous and forgiven position before God, so Jesus gave Himself up - like a sacrificial lamb - to pay the price for my sins.

I can't represent God on my own efforts, so Jesus promises to "live in me."  When I let go of the old, dying man inside (sin nature), then Christ is free to live in me!  I surrender to Him, and He gives me the best of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Dear God, I pray that Jesus Christ would live in me.  Help me today - with my words, my actions, my thoughts - all of it - to think first about following you... to let your heart and your voice and your truth and your patience and your love for people - rule my life.  

Thank you so much, Jesus, for loving me and giving your life for me.  That is true love.  Please help me - and my family - and my church - help us all LOVE YOU first in our lives!