Advent Devotional: Dec. 11, 2019

Transformed in Christ

by Sean Beckwith
December 11, 2019

Read Galatians 6:14-18
Galatians 6:14 (NRSV)

“May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Augustine of Hippo

This was the way in which, though immortal, He was able to die; the way in which He chose to give life to mortal men: He would first share with us, and then enable us to share with Him. Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did He of himself have the power to die. Accordingly, He affected a wonderful exchange with us: we gave Him the power to die, He will give us the power to live.

In taking upon Himself the death that He found in us, He has most faithfully promised to give us life in Him, such as we cannot have of ourselves. Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.
-Augustine of Hippo, 5th century

Prayer:
O God our God, grant us grace to desire You with a whole heart,
so that desiring You we may seek and find You;
and so finding You, may love You;
and loving You, may hate those sins which separate us from You,
for the sake of Jesus Christ.

-Anselm of Canterbury, 12th century