Galatians 2:20 ESV
Psalm 91:11 KJV
From the Jar
I think I first memorized Galatians 2:20 when I was in Sunday School in the early 1960’s. I don’t remember memorizing scripture until I was in 3rd Grade, so it would have probably been after I turned eight years old. I was one of the youngest students in my class because I went to school as soon as I was eligible. I really wanted to go to school!
I remember thinking it was unfair that my older brother got to go to school have have his own lunchbox.
I wanted to have my own lunchbox.
I probably cried a lot because I wanted to go to school so my Mother let me go early.
I don’t remember my lunchbox but I do know if I could have chosen ANY SuperHero for my lunchbox, mine would have been Underdog.
See, I was ALWAYS the smallest person in my class. At first I thought that was because I went to school early, but as the years wore on I realized I didn’t grow much…ever.
When it came to playground activities and sports I was always the last one picked because I was so small.
I know it’s weird, but for me to be able to identify myself with Jesus, meant I would have the power of God IN me.
Right? Since Jesus was in my heart, I had His power.
After all since Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
It meant I didn’t have to be the Underdog.
As I got older while I was still not chosen to be on a team until last somehow being last wasn’t as awful as it used to be. (There was ONE time when my best friend was team captain and she chose me first).
Identifying myself with Jesus in Galatians 2:20 meant I understood Jesus died for me on the cross.
It meant didn’t have to stand alone.
It meant my life, my size, my very short body is covered by the faith of God.
It meant the Son of God always stood with me because He loved me.
It meant that Jesus died for ME.
He gave Himself for me.
THAT made me feel ten feet tall. It made me believe that no matter what happened, God would take care of me.
THEN in Sunday School I learned about Psalm 91:11 where it says, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
WOW. Not only did Jesus live IN me, I had angels who had been assigned to watch over me (like even they were in charge of me) and they kept me safe. Every which way I went, the angels went with me and kept me safe.
Not only was I not the Underdog, now I had my own merry band of Angels to guard me.
Third grade was also a key year for me because I was given my very own Bible. Since I learned to read in first grade I have always been an avid reader. I wasn’t very good at sports so I spent all my spare time reading. Once I had my very own Bible, I read it a lot. I also learned that even after I was supposed to turn out the lights to go to bed, if I was reading my Bible I could say, “But, I’m readying my Bible!”
That bought me extra time.
In junior high school I think my dad knew I was not going to grow much. Both of my grandmothers were barely 5’ tall and my Mom was 5’2” tall. Since it didn’t look like I would ever be good at sports, my dad taught me how to write a good story and give a good speech.
I remember my dad telling me I had to open with a great line that would get everyone’s attention. At first I hated that. I was afraid the other kids would make fun of me if I did that. While it took some doing, I eventually decided to trust my dad and open every speech and every story with a line that would get their attention.
Once I started really doing that I found out that I got an E (same as an A) every time. It didn’t matter if i was giving a speech or if I was writing a story, if my opening line was great, I got a good grade.
I also learned that when I prayed, ‘God in me. God for me. God gave me faith. God loves me and God’s Angels watch over me’ I had the courage to let go of my fears.
Those same principles carried me as I studied Speech Communication in college and as I gave sermons and wrote papers in Seminary.
I learned that it didn’t matter than I’m only 4’11” tall.
I am crucified with Christ.
God is IN me.
God is FOR me.
The life I live is by faith from the Son of God.
God gave me that faith.
God sends Angels to guard me.
All because God loves me.
The same applies to you. We have even more power than Underdog.
God in you. God for you. God gives you faith. God sends Angels to guard you in all your ways. All because God loves you.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: God loves YOU
Seize God’s love for you.
In God, Deborah
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