The Life Of Christ

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20 -

When the Lord in mercy passed by and saw us in our blood, He said, "Live."

This he did first, because life is the most essential thing in spiritual matters.

Until life is bestowed, we are incapable of partaking in the things of God.

This life which grace confers upon the saints at the moment of their quickening is the life of Christ.

The life of Christ runs into us, and establishes a living connection between our souls and the Lord Jesus.

Faith is the grace which perceives this union, having proceeded from it as its first fruit.

Faith joins the body of the Church to its all-glorious Head.

Faith lays hold upon the Lord Jesus with a firm and determined grasp.

She knows His excellence and worth.

No temptation can induce her to repose her trust elsewhere.

The Lord Jesus is delighted with this heavenly grace.

He never ceases to strengthen and sustain His people by the loving embrace and all-sufficient support of His eternal arms.

Here is a living, sensible, and delightful union which brings forth streams of love, confidence, sympathy, complacency, and joy.

Then, the heart is as near to heaven as it can be, and is prepared for the enjoyment of the most sublime and spiritual kind of fellowship.

Do You Love Scars?

We all have scars from our life experiences. These scars maybe physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Scars remind us of things that have happened to us or things we have done. And scars remind us that the past is real.

Scars are good if they come from something good. But scars can really hurt if they happen because of our carelessness, recklessness or negligence.

Scars are good conversation starters. Every scars has a story to tell. And some of us just love to trade stories by looking at our scars.

Some people have scars on their forehead, near the eyes, over the cheek, under their lip and chin, across the face, near the neckline or all over the body. Those wounds are so painful and they hurt. And some have so many long, deep and ugly scars after many stitches and operations.

Do scars make you sexy? Some men and women love to see and lightly touch those scars and tattoos, and are very attracted to them. Some women view men with scars as being adventurous, macho and brave. But it is really the stories behind those scars that make them sexy or not.

But scars always remind me of something stupid or silly I have done. They remind me of the pain and worry I have gone through during those ordeals, and my times of darkness and separation from God.

Over the years, as I reflect further into my scars, and look beyond the many reasons that they have occurred, I finally see a different outcome then simply pain and worry. Now I understand that my scars are good reminders of God's mercy and grace during those times of rebellion and selfishness.

Now my physical scars remind me to live a healthier lifestyle. My emotional scars teach me the importance of happy lifestyle with friends and love. My spiritual scars bring me closer with God and Christ, a relationship I have never anticipated if not for the many events that have left the scars.

When I consider the scars on Jesus hands and feet from the nails, and in his side from the spear, I remember the severe pain and suffering He must have gone through. But that is not all. Jesus' scars remind me of victories over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Jesus' scars clearly demonstrate to me that nothing can separate us from the love and grace of God. Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life. And no one can come to God the Father except by Him.

As it is, I am pleased with my scars and would never want to remove them.

Do you love your scars?