Made Alive in Christ: Not by Me, But by Him
Today's Scripture
Colossians 2:13–14 (KJV)
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Reflection
Often times I am amazed at how far God has brought me. When I look back, I can see the changes that have taken place, and I am not talking about the things around me because those change all the time. I am talking about the changes in me, in my thinking, in the way I respond, and in how I live.
And the more I see it, the more I realize something important. I do not get the credit for any of it. It is not as if I woke up one day and decided to change myself. What I see now is the result of what God has been doing in me over time.
That is what makes this passage so meaningful.
Before Christ, we were not just struggling or trying to do better. Scripture says we were dead in our sins. That means there was nothing in us that could produce true spiritual life. We could make outward changes, we could adjust our behavior, and we could even appear to be doing well by what others see.
There are many people who live what would be considered a good life. They go to work, they take care of their families, and they treat others with respect. From the outside, everything looks right.
But that does not change the condition of the heart.
Without Christ, we are still driven by a sinful nature, still separated from God, and still without the life that only He can give. Being “good” by outward standards does not bring spiritual life. It does not remove sin, and it does not restore that relationship with God.
That is why what God has done is so significant.
He did not just improve us. He made us alive. The changes we see in our lives are not self-made, they are the result of Him working in us, bringing life where there once was none.
And when you begin to see it that way, it changes how you view your growth. It is no longer about what you have done, but about what He has done in you.
Today's Prayer
Lord, I praise You for the work You have done in me. When I look back and see the changes, I know that it was not by my own strength, but by Your power working in my life.
Thank You for giving me life when I was dead in my sins. Thank You for Your mercy, for Your forgiveness, and for the way You continue to shape me day by day.
Help me to never take credit for what only You can do. Keep my heart humble and my eyes focused on You. Continue to grow me, to change me, and to lead me in the way that pleases You.
Through Jesus Christ, I thank You for the finished work on the cross and for the freedom that comes through Him.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Before You Go
When you think about where you are now compared to where you used to be, it can be easy to focus on the changes and forget how they happened. But this passage brings you back to the truth. You were not just improved, you were made alive.
And not only that, everything that stood against you has been dealt with.
Verse 14 tells us that the record, the debt, the weight of what was against us was not just covered, it was taken out of the way. It was nailed to the cross. That means it is no longer hanging over you, no longer defining you, and no longer separating you from God.
That is where your hope is.
So when you look at your life and see growth, let it remind you of what He has done. And when you think about your past or your failures, remember that they have already been dealt with through Jesus Christ.
You are not trying to earn something that has already been finished. You are living from what has already been done.
And that changes everything.
