If you knew you needed to drive to Los Angeles, California, would you prefer to start from New York, New York, or Dallas, Texas? You would most likely want to start driving from Dallas because it’s only half the distance of starting in New York, 1400 miles versus 2800 miles! Similarly, when you plan your daily life’s journey, where do you tend to start? There are only two possible locations. You can start from your own inner strength and wisdom, or you can start from Christ in you.
I’ve asked that question to many people over the past year, and the answers often tell me a person’s default starting place. This is especially true of Christians. (By the way, what does it mean to be a Christian? At its core, it means one who, through faith, has Christ indwelling them, nothing more and nothing less.) When answering my original question, most answers I hear involve praying, reading the Bible, serving God, memorizing Scripture, and more. These are all excellent activities, but they don’t guarantee our starting place is from Christ in us. I did all of those and more as a pastor years ago, but I didn’t know how to start from Christ in me, and I eventually came to the end of my rope.
As one person asked me recently, “What does that mean?” It’s straightforward and is God’s divine design for you and every human. By faith, start your day by thanking Jesus that He is in you to love you. Then ask Him to live through you for all you will do that day. This is not a formula. It’s a relational dependence on Christ in you. HE is your starting point.
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).
