My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20a
Jesus, I want to connect with You today.
Help my thoughts turn to You today, for in You I find peace and contentment.
When we say our big yes to Jesus, something changes in us. The part of us that was selfish and mean and arrogant is killed—just like Jesus was crucified on the cross. But that “old self” tries to stick around and die a slow death. That old self will remind us of things we want to forget. It will accuse us of things God has forgiven us of. It will lie to us and tell us that the old things we used to do will still make us happy.
If we’re not willing to say a whole bunch of little, everyday yeses to Jesus, that old self will stick around a long, long time.
And the more of the old self we allow to hang around, the less of Jesus we allow into our lives. But if we abide in Jesus and keep saying our little, everyday yeses to Him, our old self will get smaller and smaller and smaller, until there’s nothing left in us but Jesus.
REFLECT:
How are you doing saying no to your old self and saying yes to Jesus? What can you do to allow more Jesus in your life?
RESPOND:
Thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and for His invitation to allow your old self to die with Him. Ask Him to help you continue to die to your old self and abide daily in Jesus.