Saturday's Snippet

Galatians 2:20

 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Good morning, Sweet Saturday, to you all!

There have been quite a few days when I am reminded of the verse above and, as I ponder it, I am moved to tears. The crucifixion of Jesus was horrible from all that I have read from the Bible and other sources on the subject. Death by crucifixion was painful beyond description. 

Matthew 27:35 recorded, "And they crucified him, and parted his garments...." Did this mean that Jesus was wearing little or nothing as He hung there on the cross? This part bothers me a lot. He hung there before His own mother in such degradation and humility; before the people who He likely healed. This makes me weep.

I have lived to see so many people seemingly "throw in the towel" on the treasures we have held onto through the years - treasures of godly living, separation, and holiness. Somehow, the only way I can describe what they've done is that they have forgotten the crucifixion of Jesus, and what the Apostle Paul wrote about being crucified with Him.

If Jesus could give ALL on the cross, how can we not give Him OUR ALL? To be crucified with Him means that we lay down all our defenses, our ideas, all OUR ways for Him. Death on the cross both literally for Jesus and symbolically for us isn't the end though.

He arose, victorious over death, hell and the grave. And, when we die out to our flesh with its carnal desires, we live and, as Paul wrote it so well, ..."yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." A crucified life is not a pitiful life but a glorious, victorious life. Oh, I wish people could really grasp this!! When I die out, I allow Jesus to be glorified through my new life!!

This song will always be one of my favorites:

Crucified with Christ

by Phillips, Craig and Dean

When I look back on what I thought was living

I'm amazed at the price I chose to pay

And to think I ignored what really mattered

'Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great

But when I finally reached the point of giving in

I found the cross was calling even then

And even though it took dying to survive

I've never felt so much alive

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

Not I but Christ that lives within me

His cross will never ask for more than I can give

For it's not my strength but His

There's no greater sacrifice 

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying

I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary

Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose

That holds me to the cross yet sets me free

I will glory in the power of the cross

The things I thought were gain I count but loss

And with His suffering I identify

And by His resurrection power, I am alive

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

Not I but Christ that lives within me

His cross will never ask for more than I can give

For it's not my strength but His

There's no greater sacrifice 

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

And I will offer all I have so His cross is not in vain

For I found to live is Christ and to die is truly gain

I pray that you all have a Sweet Saturday with the Sweetest Savior! God bless you all, and hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with a new and fresh spoonful of tonic!