then what becomes of our boasting? it is excluded. by what kind of law? by a law of works? no, but by the law of faith. [romans 3:27]
‘all i have to give is Christ in me.’
this is a phrase i have been repeating to myself, speaking to myself, teaching, and using to repent of prideful thinking or boasting. if i am made right with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, then none of my works or deeds can make me more or less right with God. none of my works or deeds can make anyone else more or less right with God. i cannot offer them anything in my flesh that will do anything eternal for them!
but thanks be to God, that through faith in Jesus Christ, God uses his children to do good works in the world. by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, he powerfully sends out his truth, his name, and his gospel through our good works and words.
so if i act in Holy Spirit power, it is not my doing, but it is Christ in me, working for his glory. if i speak in Holy Spirit wisdom, it is not my doing, but it is Christ in me, speaking for his glory. if i think i have anything to offer in my flesh, i have forgotten the law of faith and have turned back to a law of works. for this i am so thankful that his mercies are new every morning.
each new day, we have a chance to believe and live out the law of faith in Christ Jesus. we have a new opportunity to repeat to ourselves, ‘all i have to give is Christ in me.’ this is a reminder to cling to Christ, depend on the power of the Spirit, to be sent in each direction he has planned for us to go, and to be intentional in every moment and interaction we encounter.
so today, in the presence of your Father who graciously and powerfully works in you and through you, thank him for Christ! thank him for your faith in Jesus that has brought you into the forever family of the Almighty. ask for the humility that comes with true belief. and ask for the boldness that comes from complete trust that ‘all i have to give is Christ in me.’
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 in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [galatians 2:20]
~arwen eastman