Crucifixion – Make Changes, not Excuses.

Philippians 1:21
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

As we journey together in the “Run to the C.R.O.S.S” devotional, I’ve decided to dedicate each week for the next 5 weeks to write and share about the 5 words (Crucifixion, Resurrection, Obedience, Sacrifice and Salvation) that we are focusing on. 

Why would someone be crazy enough to make his way to the cross in order to be crucified?
Crucifixion was a form of capital punishment that was most horrid and torturous to an individual, to the point of condemnation and total humiliation. I am convinced that for one to make a choice to be dealt in such a manner, he/she  is either insane or just totally convicted and fully committed to the purpose of the crucifixion. 

Someone did make the choice.
His name was Jesus. 

This choice affected and changed the world.
Jesus did not make any excuses.
He simply made changes to His attitude and His prayers.
He prayed one of the most powerful prayers “Not my will but yours be done”. Jesus needed to crucify all his earthly and fleshly desires, in order to ultimately crucify His own body for the sake of mankind. 

What about you? 
What is something that you need to ‘crucify’ so that your life is more disciplined and in order?
What is something that you need to ‘crucify’ so that God can better use you for His kingdom assignments?
Will you make that choice?

There are many things, habits and even relationships that we need to crucify because of its detrimental consequences.
They are harmful, unhealthy and even toxic.
While some are obvious, others are more subtle.
What is important here is that you can make the choice to make changes to your life. 

There is good news too.
Apostle Paul reminded us in Romans 6:6 (ESV) that

“our old self was crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

Not only are we co-heirs in Christ but we need to constantly remind ourselves that we have been co-crucified with Christ.
What this means is that the power of sin has been extinguished from our lives.

The power of sin has conformed us to live in a world that says yes to the flesh and no to the spirit;
Yes to the things of this world and no to the things of God;
Yes to an undisciplined, procrastinating, overindulgent, no self-restraint, no delayed gratification and no to a life that God desires, disciplined, with vision, self-controlled, contented and obedient. 

Let it be established once and for all that we no longer need to live our lives slaves to sin.
Instead, we can be slaves to righteousness and to living right in the eyes of God. 

Solomon, the wisest king of all time, shared about an undisciplined life in Proverbs 15:32 (MSG),

“An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious”.

Puny is defined as undernourished and underdeveloped, insignificant and weak.
God has given us free will.
However, that needs to be stewarded so that we do not fall into sin and  excuse ourselves away from the will of God.
Repentance is when we change and God desires nothing less than best for us. We will be required to make changes to our lives over and over again. 

We need to crucify that which is drawing us away from God.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

“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.”

You no longer need to make any more excuses for yourself because it is no longer you who live but Christ who lives in you.
Jesus left a trail for us to follow, one that led to the cross and the crucifixion.
He did it so that our sinful nature is crucified.
We have a new life, one that is in Christ and not in the flesh.
Just like how you join the dots of an athlete’s performance to the disciplined schedule of uncompromised and committed training, our renewed and transformed lives must show signs of Christ living in us. 

A crucified life is a blessed and abundant life.

Reflection and Prayer

• To what extent is your life a reflection of Christ living in you?
• What are some things that need to be ‘crucified’ so that Christ can be better represented in your life?
• Take time to acknowledge and declare that the power of sin no longer enslaves you and that you have the right to live right for Christ.