Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Galatians 2:19, “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.”
In Galatians 2:20 Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:”
This “yet not I” is the old “I.”
It is the “I” of the flesh.
It is the “flesh-I” that tries to please God.
It is the “I” that tries to keep the law.
Verse 19 tells us how Paul arrived at “no longer I”: “I through law have died to law that I might live to God.”
Paul took up the law, and through the law he eventually died to it in order that he might be transferred to live to God.
So Paul could say, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live.”
The “I” trying to attain, trying to keep the law, is the “I” that has been crucified.
There may be religious striving in us.
This kind of striving can be found in any set of religious activities.
We may be reading the Bible.
We may be praying.
We may be doing good deeds.
Yet we are doing these things with the motive to do something that will please God.
Hebrews 9:14 calls these religious works of the flesh “dead works.”
Dead works are works in us that have no regard for the cross.
They are works that seek to establish a righteousness based upon personal attainment, rather than righteousness that is imputed to us as a gift based upon what Christ did on the cross (Gal. 2:21).
If this is the case in our experience, we will never feel accepted by the Lord.
We consciously and unconsciously examine our conduct to find a reason to feel better and to feel closer to the Lord.
We strive to attain acceptance by some means of our own.
This is why it is crucial to know Romans 8:10: “The spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Righteousness in this verse is Calvary-imputed righteousness.
This means that my spirit is released before I do anything.
My spirit is released, not because I released it, but because His righteousness released it!
My spirit is life because of righteousness.
It is not going to be life after I have prayed, called on the Lord, read my Bible, or adjusted my conduct. No!
My spirit is in a constant state of life because of a blood-bought righteousness won for me at Calvary!
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
John McCain -Hospice
Marlon Cook
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
Joe Shelnutt
John Austin
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Pat Chupp
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher