When I attended Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon, I had a professor named Dr. George Kehoe. He would begin every Spiritual Life class by quoting Galatians 2:20 — “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.” At this time of my life, I was still wandering through the desert, searching for victory, fruitfulness, genuine fulfilment. I was surrounded by people who were living with Christ’s joy and freedom, but I felt thirstier than ever. I had experienced times of blessing and victory, and I gulped the living water in these times. But each drink made me feel thirstier.

I felt like a sincere hypocrite. I knew I was a hypocrite — I knew I was living two lives, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to be the person people thought I was. And I had Dr. Kehoe constantly reminding me that Galatians says the only way to a joyful and fulfilling life is giving up pride, crucifying our perspective to have Christ live within us. That was what I was missing. To stop being a sincere hypocrite, I had to give up not one, but both of my lives. I had to let go of who others thought I was, and who I knew I was, in order to be who Christ wanted to be in me. Then I could be a new person, filled by the love of God.

“Not I, but Christ living in me.” It changed my life; imagine how it can change yours.              

This is Luis Palau.