“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
The Face
Paul names a genuine paradox here, crucified, and yet I live, both true simultaneously, the old self genuinely ended, and yet life continuing, not the same self merely improved, but Christ liveth in me, an actual exchange, not self-improvement but genuine, ongoing indwelling.
This is worth examining against however much your own approach to transformation has been imagined as self-improvement, gradually becoming a better version of the same old self through sufficient effort, rather than this deeper exchange Paul describes, the old self genuinely crucified, Christ himself now genuinely living within.
Notice who loved me, and gave himself for me, the grounding Paul gives for this whole exchange, not achieved through his own effort, but received through Christ’s own prior love and sacrifice. This transformation is not self-generated. It flows from being genuinely loved, first, by the one now living within.
Whatever transformation you are currently pursuing through your own effort alone, consider today this deeper exchange Paul describes, not self-improvement, but genuine indwelling, Christ liveth in me, flowing from being loved first, not from sufficient effort applied to the same old, unexchanged self.
Turn Your Face
- Notice whether your own approach to change has been self-improvement or genuine exchange.
- Receive today that Christ genuinely lives in you, not merely a better version of your old self.
- Live today by the faith of the Son of God, who loved you, not by effort applied to the old self.
Prayer
Lord, I am crucified with Christ, and yet I live, not I, but Christ liveth in me. Let today’s life flow from this genuine exchange, not from effort applied to my old self. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine transformation is exchange, not merely improvement of the old self.