Christ, Not Me, as the Center
Just as a glove takes its life from the hand inside, so we live from the life of Jesus within us.
Devotional Credit:
Open Windows
By T. Austin-Sparks
Photo Credit:
Unsplash
T. Austin-Sparks writes with piercing clarity that the life Jesus offers is not an improved version of our old life, nor is He a spiritual booster to make us into “better” Christians. His words uncover a subtle but widespread misunderstanding: the belief that Christ came to reinforce us, to make us more effective versions of ourselves. Instead, Scripture presents an entirely different reality—Jesus does not exist to make us something. He is the Something, and He lives His life through us so that He might be all in all.
The call of Galatians 2:20 is not that we take center stage and have Christ enhance our performance. It is that the “I” is crucified so that He is the primary life expressed. This reorients our desires from self-achievement, even in ministry, to a longing for the presence of Jesus to be unmistakable in every encounter. The mark of a Spirit-filled life is not “what a good person” others see us to be, but “what a reality of Christ” they witness through us.
Sparks reminds us that this is not a theory, but a present possibility. The life of Jesus in us is the very basis of our transformation into His image. As we share His nature, the refining work of the Spirit removes all that is not of Him, until what remains is pure gold. This is not about us striving toward spiritual polish—it is about yielding to the Lord who lives within us, allowing Him to express His own character through our words, attitudes, and actions.
What He is, He makes real in us. And as we decrease in self-focus, the beauty of His presence increases, drawing others not to us, but to Him. That is the glorious possibility we can walk in today.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You have been crucified with Me, and you no longer live, but I live in you. This is not about your improvement, but about My life taking expression through yours. I have not come to stand behind you, to make you appear strong, to polish your skills, or to give you a better reputation. I have come to be your life entirely.
When others encounter you, I desire that they sense Me, not the impressiveness of your personality or the weight of your accomplishments. As you yield to Me, the fragrance of My presence will be unmistakable. Your part is not to try to be like Me in your own strength, but to abide in Me so that My life flows without obstruction.
Lay down every subtle ambition to be “something” for Me. I call you to be nothing apart from Me, so that I may be everything in you. My nature, pure and undefiled, is your inheritance. I am conforming you to My image, not by your self-effort, but by My Spirit working in you. Let this be your confidence: I will complete what I have begun in you, and the result will be all of Me, shining through you.
Scripture References: Galatians 2:20, John 15:5, Philippians 1:6, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Peter 1:3–4, Ephesians 3:16–19, Romans 8:29
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a glove lying on a table. By itself, it has no movement, no ability to grip or hold. When a hand fills it, the glove takes on the strength, motion, and precision of the hand inside. The glove does not act independently or add anything to the hand—it simply yields to its shape and movement.
In the same way, our life is not meant to be an independent effort that God occasionally “assists.” Jesus is the life within, and our role is to yield to His movement and direction. Today, whether you are speaking to a coworker, serving your family, or making decisions, you can quietly affirm, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me right now.”
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that You have not come to improve me, but to live as my very life. I rejoice that I am not left to represent You in my own ability, but that You Yourself are the One who works in me and through me. I rest in the certainty that as I yield to You, Your presence will be what others see and sense. Thank You for the glorious possibility of walking in the reality of Your life today.