Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We let go of our compulsive need to be at center-stage or even at the center of our own universe. We let go of desperate efforts to function as our own higher power. We have indeed “been crucified with Christ,” and we have died to and let go of excessive codependent reliance upon people and things.
Through spiritual rebirth and awakening, we let God resume His rightful position as the centerpiece of our lives. As we seek spiritual solutions to the old dependent hunger of the flesh, we discover that “we will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.84).
As the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city! The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After preaching the Good News there and making many disciples, they returned again to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, where they helped the believers to grow in love for God and each other. They encouraged them to continue in the faith in spite of all the persecution, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church and prayed for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord in whom they trusted. Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia, preached again in Perga, and went on to Attalia. Finally they returned by ship to Antioch, where their journey had begun and where they had been committed to God for the work now completed. Upon arrival they called together the believers and reported on their trip, telling how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles too. And they stayed there with the believers at Antioch for a long while. Acts 14:20-28
We have an altar—the cross where Christ was sacrificed—where those who continue to seek salvation by obeying Jewish laws can never be helped. Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of the slain animals into the sanctuary as a sacrifice for sin, and then the bodies of the animals were burned outside the city. That is why Jesus suffered and died outside the city, where his blood washed our sins away. So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven. With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:10-16
FOLLOW JESUS Jesus called out, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!” Matthew 4:19
He calls us to follow Him. Learn from Him and reach out to others in His name.
FIND COMMON GROUND TO REACH PEOPLE ON When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don’t act as though I know it all and don’t say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them. Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ savehim. 1 Corinthians 9:22
Never act like you are better than anyone else because you are in recovery. Remember where you came from or you might end up back there. Look for the similarities, not the differences.
ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.1 Peter 3:15
Trust God. Answer peoople’s questions. Respect the differences. And, be gentle.
NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way.Romans 1:16
Tell the truth. Share what God has done for you. Invite others to participate.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT “Those who are wise—the people of God—shall shine as brightly as the sun’s brilliance.” Daniel 12:3
Let your light shine. Live His principles in every area of yor life. Let God lead.
