Learning to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
“To live is Christ” means that we, like Mary, have Christ in us. Christ is the humble one exalted by God to an eternal throne. Christ is the hungry one who desired only the will of God the Father. Christ is the faithful, dependent, and committed one that we, like Mary, allow to transform our souls into singing the songs of God’s magnificent salvation.
“To live is Christ” means we have the mighty rushing wind of God’s Spirit in us. But the incarnation tells us that that mighty whirlwind is now the simple breath of a baby.
“To live is Christ” is to both be loved by Christ (he died for all) and to love Christ (we live for him). It is to let Christ control you so that you no longer have to live for yourself. It is giving up control of your own life, and replacing it with the controlling force of God’s pure and powerful love for you.
“To live is Christ” is possible because the Word became flesh. Now it is this great paradox of the incarnation – majesty becoming mediocre, glory becoming grace, the sovereign becoming the slave, the high and exalted being humbled – that is our life’s course.
“To live is Christ” means we have the mighty rushing wind of God’s Spirit in us. But the incarnation tells us that that mighty whirlwind is now the simple breath of a baby. The Spirit that separated seas and rushed in and out of temples is now swaddled in the manger of our hearts. God’s presence now found in the welcoming grace of baby. The power of our union with Christ now found in the humble faith of a child.
“To live is Christ” is possible because the Word became flesh. Now it is this great paradox of the incarnation – majesty becoming mediocre, glory becoming grace, the sovereign becoming the slave, the high and exalted being humbled – that is our life’s course. Living sacrificially as the Word becomes flesh in every act of love of his church.
To Live is Christ 