“Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not mine, but it is lived by faith in the son of God.” (Galatians 2:20 MSG)
This text makes me think of the seagulls in Finding Nemo. You know the birds: they are aggressively portrayed, moving in territorial flocks and shouting “Mine! Mine! Mine!” as they descend on every morsel of potential gain. This obnoxious onslaught seems to be a statement on selfishness: its second nature for us and wholly destructive to relationship.
When Jesus comes on our scene that’s the moment we awaken to “Not mine!” This opportunity – not mine. This agenda – not mine. The future – not mine. It grates against our grasping flesh nature, but at the same time, it’s freeing to be unshackled from our desires. This morning, I am picturing my friend Jesus as I nudge my life in His direction.
John Eldredge shares his personal epiphany in Restoration Year: “Jesus has no intention of letting you become whole apart from His moment by moment presence and life within you.” We might initially think this sounds a bit nefarious or manipulative, but it makes sense when we realize when we consider it more deeply. If we could somehow reassemble our lives apart form Him, how could we sustain that wholeness without Him? Christ in me is the only hope of glory, the promise of restored and perpetual wholeness. And the wholeness that we seek begins with surrender, begins with realizing our deep need of Jesus in all our broken places.
“My counsel is this: Live freely, animated by God’s spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness.” (Galatians 5:16 MSG)
Lord, we wander and still we struggle with “mine!” Help us to remember the grasping seagulls when our selfishness sneaks back in. Give us the guts to surrender again, as many tie as is necessary. Our only real opportunity for wholeness is found and sustained in You. We want to move towards that, we want to move towards You. Amen.