I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;   

 

I have been crucified with Christ; 

The moment Christ was crucified, we were also crucified with Him; and if we were crucified with Him, we no longer live. We are dead. That is why Paul is saying,

and it is no longer I who live, 

The moment the very punishment was executed, we died on the cross along with Christ

but Christ lives in me; 

Nobody can kill Christ. He was dead, the third day He rose again. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever (Heb 13:8). The same Christ is living in us.

The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit lives in our body. (1 Cor 6:19)

And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Rom 8:9) 

So the most important thing is making Christ live in us; and realizing His living in us. He comes to live in us only when we desire, only when we invite, only when we give Him the due place, the right place that belongs to Him with due reverence. 

He doesn't come uninvited. He doesn't force His entry into any of us. 

 

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, 

When Christ lives in us, we submit all our rights to Him by faith. And He takes over. He decides what we should do, how we should live, what we should speak. Everything will flow in and through Christ who lives in us.

From the moment of his conversion, Paul so dearly loved Christ, and Christ became his sole beloved; and he realized that only Christ loved him. That's why he says, "He loved me, and gave Himself up for me." ：who loved me and gave Himself up for me.   

Reading the epistles of Paul gives us a strong feeling how a believer can be united with the Savior, Jesus Christ. May we also have the same experience, the same desire, same thirst that Christ may live in us to that extent that we no longer live for ourselves or by ourselves.

 

Abba, Thank You for loving us this extensively. We worship You, we adore You, we love You. Jesus, thank You for this great love, that gave Yourself up for me. Let each and every one of us realize this salvific experience personally. Let Your Spirit make us be united with You in all walks of live, everyday, that we may have the intimate union with you every second of our life. In Jesus' Most Powerful Name, Amen.