Week 15 — WEDNESDAY

One of the passages which shows clearly the two-sidedness—our being in Him and His being in us—is the passage: “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” (Gal. 2:20). The one side is: “I have been crucified with Christ”—I am so in Him that His crucifixion becomes mine—I die in His death. I lose my personality by a voluntary identification with Him at His lowest place—the cross. I literally die to myself. But in His rising from the dead I become alive too: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” I gave my all in His dying—died with Him—and He gives me His all in His rising—imparts to me His resurrection glory and power. He, the resurrected Lord, lives within me and lives within me in the power of that resurrection. Everything within me is resurrected—my mind is made alive with the dynamic fact that the worst has been met and conquered and that I can do the same with Him within me. My emotions are kindled by His self-giving, conquering love; my will is aroused to act as He acted for He is acting in me; my whole being is alive with creation.

This alive life is a life lived “in the flesh.” It does not await the sloughing off of the body before it begins. As Jesus is the Word become flesh, so I can be in Him the word of victory become “flesh.” “The flesh” is a part of the victory, for the flesh partakes of that victory. The flesh is quickened into wholeness and integration and harmony. It is at its maximum best in Him, and, linked to His purposes, becomes alive with His life, vibrant with His vitality.

O Glorious Redeemer, You are redeeming me vitally, totally—mind, body, and spirit. You are becoming the Life of my life, the Joy of my joy, the Peace of my peace—my glorious Everything. In You I live eternally—now! I thank You. Amen.

AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: When the Word becomes flesh in me, then my flesh becomes Word.