Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The life of Paul the Apostle was a life that was focused, empowered by what he believed about the death and resurrection of Jesus.  He lived to do whatever the Lord commanded him to do; he went wherever he was sent and was completely sold out to his mission at any cost. Yet he was very careful not to take credit for his accomplishments but instead he gave credit to the Lord. In the above excerpt from his letter to the Christians at Galatia he explained why and how he was able to live the way he did.

Christ died not just so that we might be saved from sin, but also that we may live the life that pleases God, which is the life he planned for us to live before we were even born. None of us have the natural inclination or ability to live that life. So once we respond to the love of Jesus and are saved, we make it our business to follow the Spirit’s leading. There must come a time when you become sensitive to being led by the Spirit. It will create a crisis for you repeatedly when your natural inclinations, plans and wishes need to be set aside so that God’s will can be done. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25).