Crucified With Christ Day T-3

We are discussing the relationship of destroying the human immune system to being ‘crucified with Christ’ (Galatians 2:20). Destroying my immune system is needed to create room and ability for a new healthy immune system to engraft. Being crucified with Christ does not mean climbing onto a wooden cross and suffering the same painful death that Jesus experienced some 2000 years ago at the hands of the Roman soldiers. But if we want our lives to be increasingly bear the mark of His love, joy, peace, and patience, (etc) it does mean that we are called to live fully in Him and to invite Him to live fully in us. But to do this we have to continuously put off and let go of that which hinders us and put on the Spirit of Jesus in our daily lives. It requires a recognition that on our own we are not the master of our own fate, not the architect of our own lives nor our children’s or friends, not the captain of our own souls. We have choices for sure and we are in charge of these. We govern our own will. But we are sorely limited. The great Paul admits he wants to do what is right but ends up doing what is wrong. He concludes that his will is insufficient and must rely on the grace and power of Jesus to live in him and make these decisions for him. In Colossians 1:27. He proclaims the “secret” that Christ is for all, the Jew and the Gentile (unbelievers) and that “Christ In Us is the hope of glory.” True and lasting, eternal hope is beyond our natural grasp. The bible teaches the answers to all of life are not found within us unless Jesus is found there first.

In one very real sense, being crucified with Christ has nothing to do with what we do; it is in believing that Christ finished His work on our behalf, and in accepting and living according to what Jesus has already done for us personally. When Jesus died on the cross, he said, “it is finished.” The payment for your sins and mine were paid for once and for all. All we have to do is to ask Jesus, out loud, or quietly in your heart, for forgiveness and to accept the precious free gift of His Lordship and leadership in your life. And what an immune system THAT is!
Speaking of immune boosts, it was great to see Jenny and Eric and their family when they visited this afternoon! I think my ‘darth vader’ mask was a hit for a couple of the kiddies. Three pairs of high dose chemos down, one pair of doses remaining on Monday.

Don't be shellfish...