July 23 – Your Life in Six Words
Galatians 2:20 – 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.
Scripture Reading – Philippians 1:15-30
Dr. Edward Welch is a counselor and faculty member of the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF). He teaches a class in their School of Biblical Counseling called “Helping Relationships.” One of his assignments is for students to write two one-page personal memoirs with the title describing their life in six words. The objective is to be honest about a personal struggle, but also to recognize God’s sanctifying, transformative work through the struggle.
Dr. Welch referred to this assignment in his keynote lecture last year at the CCEF conference where he explored Paul’s narrative of his life and ministry. He suggested that Paul’s six-word summary title of his personal memoir would be “For me to live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21) This was humbling to hear since my own two papers were not nearly as eloquent, nor did they describe a life so absolutely, fully surrendered to Christ.
What does it mean “to live is Christ?” Paul’s entire purpose, identity and reason for living is completely centered on Jesus. Every moment that he draws breath is meant to serve, honor and proclaim the Gospel, regardless of his circumstances. The Gospel, or “good news”, is the hope that comes through the person of Jesus (fully God, fully man, the anointed one/Messiah); his work (entering into human history, leading a sinless life, a sacrificial death on a cross); his accomplishment (paid the penalty for all of humanities sins, victory over death, resurrection from the dead); the result(Jesus’s perfect righteousness is credited to everyone who puts their faith in him, offering reconciliation with God and the promise of eternal life with him).
Paul lays out the details to “live is Christ” in our Galatians verse. Paul has been crucified with Christ, which means to be in complete spiritual union with Christ because Paul’s old sinful self has been put to death. It is only possible to put our sinful self to death because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross through his literal crucifixion. It is no longer I [Paul & any believer] who lives, but Christ who lives in me, the sanctifying, transformative work of the Spirit. Paul’s life in the flesh is now lived by faith in the Son of God. Every decision is guided by absolute trust in Jesus, not in Paul’s own strength, knowledge, or ability. He ends this verse beautifully describing Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. May we embrace these absolute truths and have our six-words be transformed into “For me to live is Christ.”
Further reading: Romans 5:12-21, 6:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Reflection Questions:
1. As you consider your six-words, do they describe a life absolutely and fully surrendered to Christ?
2. If not, what is holding you back from full surrender? What are you holding on to?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me and giving yourself for me. You are great and there is no other god like you. Thank you for the hope that’s in your blood, and because of that there’s a future grace that is mine today. Jesus, you have already won the battle. Thank you for the Spirit who dwells in me, renewing and transforming me day by day. Help me to cling to you, in full knowledge that I need you. You are my rock and righteousness. Thank you for the promise that the work you began in me will one day be completed. In Christ, Amen.
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