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Verse:“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” —Galatians 2:20
Religion is much more than merely a rational acceptance of certain doctrinal beliefs. It is more than sporadic emotional expressions at worship services and prayer meetings. Rather, it is a true conversion experience that leads to a daily and unconditional commitment to Christ. It means being crucified to the world and living a new life in Christ, allowing Him through His Word to control our thoughts, words, and actions. This life of devotion was the emphasis of Nicolaus von Zinzendorf (1700–1760), an influential Pietist bishop of the Moravian Church who was born on May 26, 1700, in Dresden, Germany. Dissatisfied with the dry Lutheran orthodoxy of his time, Zinzendorf stressed religion of the heart, profoundly influencing John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.
As the apostle Paul surrendered his whole life to Christ (Galatians 2:20), so did Zinzendorf. Reflecting on the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and relating it to his own salvation, the great Moravian revivalist stated, “Thanks to the blood of the Lamb. Thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has redeemed us. We may have committed never so many sins, they are all drowned in the ocean of the blood of Christ.”49 With such adoration for Christ, Zinzendorf could not accept a passive or isolated religion. He asserted, “There can be no Christianity without community.” His love for Christ gave him a strong passion for mission.
A statement often attributed to Zinzendorf reads, “Mission, after all, is simply this: Every heart with Christ is a missionary, every heart without Christ is a mission field.” Reflecting on those meaningful words of Zinzendorf, we should ask ourselves: How are we responding to Christ’s sufferings on our behalf? Perhaps your religion has been more of an intellectual enterprise and not a truly life-changing experience with Christ.
Whatever your current state, remember that you are not your own. You were bought by Christ, and you should live and work for Him.
He should guide every moment of your life.