Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 30

We use the term “crucified with Christ” often in Christian circles, but what does it really mean? Why would we follow Christ to our own crucifixion? Are we really wanting to die that badly, that we will take on these words? Or is it something else? Of course, it speaks to the substitutionary role that Jesus played in our salvation, but why are we so happy to take it on as well? He died, why should we have to?

These are fair questions, I believe. And why have we taken on the language of death so often in the Christian faith? I mean, isn’t the salvation that comes from Christ really all about life and not death?

I guess we are talking about the uncomfortable love that comes from being willing to lose our life for someone. And now, as the text says, we are actually willing to give our lives in submission to Christ in us. That means, we put our desires, our will, and our trajectory as second to Christ’s in our life. But does that seem like too much to give? And how does that even happen in our lives? Are we not supposed to have our own plans, our own will, and our own hopes and future?

I sometimes cringe when we talk like this because it does mean that we put all of it into God’s hands, rather than take responsibility for our own lives.

I would like to offer another solution. I think we work in partnership with Christ in our lives. Obviously, we don’t know every left or right turn to take every single moment of each day. So we have to have our brains involved in the decision-making process of our lives. However, is there an overarching theme that we live with that supersedes these little decisions? I mean, when we partner with someone, and with someone that we love and loves, that relationship becomes the overarching theme and end of every decision. In a marriage, we have to consider the marriage before every decision.

Scripture tells us to “seek first the kingdom” and all its righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) So how do we do this within our partnership with God? I think it is actually simple as we continue to live our lives with God. We begin to consider what God would want, what accelerates the kingdom building in our lives, and what shows Christ to others most profoundly. When this becomes the instinct that we live, we begin to change the way we make decisions. We begin to submit in a very different way.

1. How do you seek first the kingdom of God to understand God’s love for us? 
2. Do you like the word “submit''? Why or why not? 
3. How do you experience Christ in your heart? 
4. What do you think about the language of partnership with God?