Bringing Value to Christ’s Death

Scripture:

Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;  20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is 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.  21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Observation:

Paul’s life in the flesh is transformed by Christ who now lives in him. He has been united with Christ, not through the law but through Christ’s death, the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. The truth is profound and sometimes hard to grasp but the result is visible by the way one lives their life in the flesh.

If this transformation is not a testimony to the power of Christ then Christ died for nothing. By being crucified with Christ, Paul’s transformed life brought value to Christ’s death. His daily life was a living testimony to the power that was unleashed through Christ’s death on the cross.

Application:

This testimony to the power of Christ’s work is not only to be visible in the life of the Apostle Paul but in every follower of Christ. There is nothing static about the Christian life, but it is to be on-going and transformational as Christ lives in us. The reflection to the world is to be Christ.

This can really hit home when we wrestle with living in Christ daily. It is the reputation of Christ which is at stake on a day to day basis. His reputation is scrutinized by the way in which we conduct ourselves in every avenue of our lives. This includes our professional lives and the ways in which we act and respond at work.

This week we had the privilege of hosting Mr. Bob Moore on the NTS campus. This man started a business just over 30 years ago with a handful of employees and today has more than 400. Bob himself is 86 years of age but goes to work every single day and knows the names of nearly everyone that works for him. He doesn’t fire people, but he finds the right place for them to work if initially it’s a poor fit. He shares his profits with all of his employees and has been doing this monthly for 25 years. Now, he’s choosing to give the company to his employees so that they will become the owners. His motto is “people before profits.” He takes Christ as his example on how to treat others. In Bob we find a reflection of Christ in the business world that doesn’t make sense to the normal business models. Bob rejects other models and chooses to remain in Christ.

When we bear the name of Christ and we are in him, then the world expects something different of us. The standard becomes higher because our transformed lives ought to bring value to Christ’s work on the cross. Bob was highlighted in the national news because of what he’s done. That’s the kind of news we want to see, not news that taints and smears the name of Christ as tends to happen with those who brandish the name Christian in odd ways.

In every ordinary and maybe not-so-ordinary event of the day we are to be in Christ. Our lives are to be a reflection of the extraordinary work that was accomplished for you and me and the world beyond. Do your best today for the Master and may Christ be powerfully reflected. Bring value to Christ’s death.

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to live faithfully in you today. Amen.


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