My Jesus, my Lord
You're the love of my life
Wherever You go
I want to be by Your side
No longer I,
But Christ living in me
Serving You for all eternity.Heart of A Servant
These words echo the longing of a true disciple — one whose heart beats for Jesus and whose life is surrendered to Him completely.
“No longer my ways, but Christ living in me.”
It sounds simple to say, but it’s one of the hardest things to live out. As followers of Christ, do we truly have the courage to declare: “No longer I, but Christ in me”?
A Bold Example: Paul
The Apostle Paul lived by these words. In Galatians 2:20–21, he wrote:
"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. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
To understand the weight of this declaration, we need to look at the context.
Paul Confronts Peter (Galatians 2:11-21)
Imagine the scene. Paul was the “new guy” among the apostles. Paul had just confronted Peter — yes, Peter, the very apostle who walked closely with Jesus. Yet, he stood up for what was right — not to embarrass Peter, but to protect the integrity of the Gospel. He wasn’t rude, but he was firm. That moment may have seemed uncomfortable, even awkward. But it brought clarity and truth.
He wasn’t rude. He wasn’t loud. But he was firm.
Paul saw that Peter’s behavior contradicted the message of grace. Peter used to eat with the Gentiles, but when some men from James arrived, he withdrew — out of fear. This act wasn’t just social awkwardness; it struck at the core of the Gospel truth. Paul recognized that this wasn’t about food or table fellowship. It was about justification by faith, not by law.
So Paul spoke up — and it probably shifted the mood. It might’ve felt like the party got interrupted. But Paul wasn’t there to ruin the moment; he was there to be faithful.
He reminded them that our righteousness doesn’t come from keeping the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. That we are justified not by what we do, but by what Christ has already done.
And what was the result?
- It was good for Paul, because he stayed true to the Gospel.
- It was good for Peter, because he received correction and grew in truth.
- It was good for the Church, because the truth prevailed.
All of this happened because both men stepped out of their comfort zones — Paul to speak, and Peter to listen.
What can we learn from this?
1. Stand for the Truth
Like Paul, we are called to stand and speak for the truth of the Gospel. This doesn’t mean we go around opposing people, but we lovingly oppose actions or teachings that deviate from God’s Word.
Don’t keep silent just to please others. We are called to please God, not men. And when we’re the ones who need correction, let’s be humble enough to admit it. There's strength in standing for what’s right — even when it means admitting we were wrong.
2. Forget Yourself — Let Christ Live in You
"Not I, but Christ in me." These words challenge us to let go of pride, ego, and comfort. Often, it’s our pride that keeps us from serving others or from receiving correction.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Following Jesus means denying ourselves — daily. It's not easy. But when we let go of self and let Christ lead, we begin to live the life God intended for us: full of truth, grace, humility, and servant-hearted love.
A heart of a servant doesn’t seek applause. It seeks to honor God.
To be a disciple is to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus — even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it costs our pride. Even when we have to speak up or sit down.
May our hearts echo Paul’s words:
“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
Because the true mark of a servant is not how much we do for God —
But how much of ourselves we surrender to Him.
