Crucified to Live

 “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine! Galatians 2:20 (TPT)

   This is the Passion Translation version of the very familiar verse, "I've be crucified with Christ and I no longer live but it's Christ that lives in me." Most of us have heard this Scripture multiple times in our Christian walk. There has even been a song written with this as the chorus, very poetic and moving. But what does it mean to die or be co-crucified really? If I really think about it, it sounds terrifying. And I have been thinking about it a lot. 
   When I came to Christ, I had reached an end to myself, I no longer knew what my life was about or  what I wanted in it. All I knew was that I needed Jesus; I needed Him to fix me, I couldn't do it. So I gladly handed over my broken pieces and mistakenly thought that was me "dying" to self! Ha! That was merely the beginning of a life long journey of self-death. It's a journey that will be hard but is so worth it. And remember, salvation is us giving up (making covenant with) our lives to God, even if we don't fully understand what that means at the time!
   So what of ourselves do we crucify? For me one of the first is pride. Pride in myself has to cease because my self is dead; Jesus now holds the claim to my self. Pride is death, pride is what made satan think he could become mightier than God. When pride controls my self, I am creating a throne and claiming to be above God. You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne  above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon," Isaiah 14:13 (NIV).  Arrogance, superiority, and pride are the fruits of wickedness and the true definition of sin. Proverbs 21:4 (TPT)
   Another area that I have struggled with is unforgiveness. People have hurt me and I decided that it was my "right" to keep that mark against them. It's our right to seek out justice against those who have injured our minds, bodies, and heart! Is it really, though? I have claimed that I am dead and Christ lives in me; is that what He did, demand justice for Himself? But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ's love Ephesians 4:32 (TPT). Nowhere in that verse does it say that God is allowing me to serve up a dose of retribution; in fact it says to forgive in the depths of Christs love! I can't even fathom the type of love that Jesus had to have to willingly leave Heaven and come live among the very people who would later kill Him. What depth of love is that?!
   Now these might not be issues that anyone else faces but we all have things of ourselves that need to be put to death. Not a single person is perfect so don't act like it. But it's fair to ask what's the point of self-death? Other than the fact that we made a covenant with God at salvation is there any other point in doing it? Look at Galatians 2:20 again and read the latter half. "We live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God...and dispenses his life into mine!" As we begin to die to ourselves more of Jesus pours in to us. We become more united and empowered by Him! In crucifying our sense of self, we receive His new life and power! This is the point of Christianity-to become like Christ; not always easy but always worth it. If I had wanted to stagnant in my own self, I would have never cried out to the Living God for rescue.