Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Scripture Insights
I love the “resurrection part” of life in Christ. It’s the dying that’s hard. The part before resurrection—the letting go, the pain, the surrender—can feel overwhelming. Even as followers of Jesus, we often instinctively resist suffering. We cling to comfort, to safety. But the truth remains: resurrection requires death.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” That call cuts against our deepest instincts for survival. We celebrate Christ’s death for us—sometimes with tears, often with awe. We hear “Jesus died so we wouldn’t have to,” but that’s only part of the story.
In Christ, God revealed the self-giving love he intended for humanity from the beginning. When we surrender ourselves—when we allow our ego, pride, and self-protection to be crucified with Christ—we make space for his life to be formed in us.
This is the miracle of grace: by faith, Christ begins to live in us. Dying is hard, but in faith, we discover he truly brings life from death.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank you for giving your only Son. Jesus, thank you for your obedient sacrifice on the cross. Holy Spirit, thank you for empowering us to live in Christ, sharing in his death and resurrection through your grace and presence.
—G. Dale Benson
Lead Pastor, The Naz Church (Ohio)
