Tag Archives: precious blood of Christ

(The Everlasting Way) Crucified with Christ – A Life of Surrender

February 18, 2026 robuck4@aol.com Leave a comment

Have you ever struggled with intending to do something important but never getting to it because it required too much effort. Or, knowing you shouldn’t do this or that, but finding yourself doing it anyway.

I do.

These are signs we’re not fully embracing what it means to be crucified with Christ in His death and made alive with Him in His resurrection.

But how can we understand what this really means?

I’ve found answers in The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. [1]

This classic clearly articulates, from scripture, the normal life a Christian is to live:

Knowing our crucifixion with Christ on the cross and how our death frees us from sin [2]
Considering (or reckoning) the truth of our death to sin and life in Christ on a regular basis [3]
Presenting the members of our body, not as instruments of unrighteousness, but to God for righteousness [4]

Upon this knowing, considering, and presenting, we live out the following verse, which is a great summary of the gospel:

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

This verse states that we died, we’re indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and our life is about depending on Christ, not on our own striving.

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

But how is this possible?

How can we who are living and breathing live a life of death to self?

In his book, Watchman Nee speaks often of his mentor in the faith, Miss Margaret Emma Barber (1866-1930), a British missionary to China. She helped show Mr. Nee and other new believers in China the power of resting in Christ and not living a life of self-motivated activity.

Of Miss Barber, Watchman Nee wrote: “She had but one motive, one desire, and that was for God. Written in the front of her Bible were these words: ‘Lord, I want nothing for myself.’ Yes, she lived for God alone, and where that is the case, you will find that such a one is bathed in light, and that light illuminates others. That is real witness.” [5]

“Lord, I want nothing for myself” – seems to be a significant starting point for understanding the type of surrender required to reckon myself dead to sin, but alive to Christ.

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11 NKJV).

Let’s look at each phrase of M.E. Barber’s life’s cry.

Lord

“Lord” – seems to be the most important word of all. Here she recognized God’s nearness and directed her attention to Him.

Godward attention. Recently I had a discussion with friends as to all that’s involved in paying attention. When I spend my resource of attention, I’m paying with my thoughts, my time, my focus, my eyes, and my ears. Attention costs us dearly. Being attentive to God seems to be the one thing which becomes the mainspring of all else in life.

I

“I” In a world of selfies and social media, “I” must be surrendered to Christ in ever-increasing veracity.

He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Want

What do I want? Comfort? Peaceful circumstances? Popularity? Success? Security?

Yes, to all and more, I’m sure.

These “wants” are ever swirling around in my thoughts and distracting my soul. What my heart longs for is the freedom of Godward attention alone, apart from what I want.

Nothing

“Nothing” (“not one” + “thing”)

So, personally, to apply M.E. Barber’s statement, I would surrender:

comfort
peaceful circumstances
caring about what people think
the need to succeed
riches and worldly security
. . .

These seem more like cares to be given freely to God.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you (I Peter 5:6-7).

For

“For” (“to support,” “on behalf of”).

I want not one thing to support me or to be for my behalf.

As long as I live, I will have wants or needs; I must trust them all to the One who loved me and gave Himself up for me. [6]

Myself

“Myself” (“my own person”)

The last phrase really helps me get the gist of what M.E. Barber meant and what I’d love to be the posture of my heart.

Not wanting anything for myself, but all for Christ.

The many things the Lord has asked me to manage:

time
health
possessions
talents
vocation
my very self

are all His anyway. Why would I not want to surrender them back to Him for His kingdom’s work?

Prayer

Father, I come to You in full awareness of Your nearness and my great need for You.

I long to have a heart like Margaret Barber, whose focused desire was to live out her crucifixion in Christ in full surrender of everything to You.

Lord, I surrender all that You have entrusted to me, not for myself, but back to You to be used for the advancement of Your Kingdom.

Being free of the trappings that bog down my soul, may I ferociously love every person You bring my way.

May I boldly proclaim the wonderful news of the precious blood of Jesus, shed for our redemption, our rescue from death to life.

Amen.

Reflections

Lord, I want nothing for myself.

Yet God has entrusted me with much.

My response is to get to the point each day where I can truly say.

Lord, of all you’ve asked me to manage, I don’t want it for myself; I want it for You to be used as You will.

I want to surrender it all.

Thinking as a man who has died to what I want, that I might be alive to what God wants.

May this be the cry of my heart every day.

In this way, I believe I will make strides towards living the crucified life.

As I forget my death in Christ along the way and revert to living for what I want, I pray God will quickly show me that I might consider myself dead to sin and alive to God.

Quote

“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.” Watchman Nee.

[1] The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee, Tyndale House Publishers, @ 1977

[2] Romans 6:5-7

[3] Romans 6:10-11

[4] Romans 6:13

[5] The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee, Tyndale House Publishers, @ 1977 pages 240-241

[6] Galatians 2:20

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all referenced Scripture is from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.

Also, the cover photo is from the cover of M.E. Barber, A Seed Sown in China, by James Reetzke, Chicago Bibles and Books, @2005

Other posts in our Everlasting Way Series:

Learning How to Overcome Emotional Numbness

Embracing God’s Amazing Love

Are we More Like Batman or Spider-Man

Transforming Awareness: The Power of God’s Love

Minding Your Busyness

Our Deepest Longings Filled

Rules Don’t Rule

Mice in the Sock Drawer

Turning Gainers into Drainers

Until the Darkness Fades

Courage Rising

Recovering

Celebrating with Joy – In Memory of a Friend

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.

Rob Buck

Nonfiction books by the Author:

This collection of devotionals chronicles a heartfelt journey from a life of striving and self-reliance to one of growing surrender and trust in God.

Through personal stories of family struggles, cancer, grief, and unexpected trials, the devotions show that true, unshakeable joy comes not from perfect circumstances, but from the constant, loving presence of Jesus Christ.

It’s an invitation to learn to let go of our burdens and find growing peace in God’s greater story.

Finding Joy in Life’s Moments

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for? Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowingly set off a series of events which uncovers a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.

Sentenced to Die, What it Means to be Saved

Good Friday – The Story of Us

April 17, 2025 robuck4@aol.com 2 Comments

A young man squatted in a dingy prison cell. His features were hidden by the deep shadows of his dark imprisonment. Only a thin plane of sunlight penetrated the darkness, revealing countless dust particles floating around rows of disheartened men. The man was seated, away from the light, staring, motionless, into the darkness.

Outside the prison, upon a hill, stood the place of execution, where condemned men were put to death. Today would be this man’s turn. In a way, death was a welcome ending to his pain. However, more strongly, the condemned man felt the fear of death’s mysteries. His soul, it seems, had died long ago, but the fear of physical death consumed every fiber of his being.

As he waited in the cruel anticipation of a violent death, his mind raced across the span of his life. What would have made a difference? What could have changed his inclinations towards evil? The answers to these questions could only be tossed out into his universe of despair. Like always, he knew no answers would come. There was no hope, never had there been hope.

Slowly and ever more increasingly, the young man became aware of the sounds of a great number of voices. There were shouts and roars, but none of the words could be recognized. The sounds increased and erupted past him like a huge ocean wave. An enormous mass of shouting people had passed just outside his cell and were proceeding toward execution hill. The time was near. The man could not remember so great a crowd ever gathered to witness a death before.

Just then, the outside door of the prison was slammed open hard against the wall. Keys jiggled and the main security door was unlocked. Prison guards streamed towards his cell. The hopeless man trembled and recoiled in fear. Death was pouncing upon him.

The guards unlocked his cell and converged upon him like many wild tigers. They seized him, and drug him out into the morning sunlight outside the prison. When they had cleared the outside door of the prison, he was slammed face down hard on the ground. The impact knocked him into a daze. In a semi unconscious state, he waited for the first slapping sting of the lashing whip.

After a while, he senses quickened and he slowly opened his eyes, spitting dust from his mouth. He tilted his head slowly, expecting his flesh to be ripped open at any moment.

Amazingly, he was alone.

People were flowing in masses towards execution hill, but he was left unattended on the ground.

Slowly at first, but with increasing urgency, the freed man got up and made his way into a block building, across the block from the prison. Looking around as he fled, he expected his fantasy to end at any moment. He made it to the dwelling and flung himself sobbing to the ground.

After a long while, the man’s curiosity couldn’t be contained. He left the building and circled around the back of execution hill. He came up upon the crowd and mixed himself safely among the masses. With much effort, he fought his way through until he could see what the commotion was all about.

Three men hung dying on crosses, the pain etched across their faces. Two of the men he knew from his time in prison, but he didn’t recognize the man in the middle. This man seemed much weaker and closer to death than the others. He stood watching the dying man with blood gushing down the wood of the middle tree. A strange magnetism drew his soul, locking him in on the suffering criminal.

Their eyes met. Though he was among a mass of people, the man on the middle cross was looking directly at him. The dying man’s eyes were not desperate and frantic, but peaceful and loving.

After a few moments the freed man turned and walked away. As he fought his way back through the crowd, he overheard someone asking about the man on the middle cross, “Why are they killing him, what has he done?”

“He’s done nothing wrong,” the answer came. “He’s dying in place of a man set free.”

Exchanged Life

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:21 NASB)

What would it feel like to find yourself in a prison cell, sentenced to die? Yet, being released at the last hour for another to die in your place. A man free of wrong, willing to die for you. This is our story.