A woman rushed up to violinist Fritz Kreisler after a concert and gushed, "Oh, I would give my life to play as you do!" He answered soberly, "That's exactly what I did."

Kreisler had made a great sacrifice of time, effort, and personal desires to attain the heights of such human accomplishments. So too, in the spiritual realm, if we would become mature followers of Christ, we must be willing to die to self.

Three crucifixions are in view in Galatians 6:14. First is the crucifixion of Christ. His sacrificial death on the cross provided our salvation. Second is the crucifixion of the world. Its pleasures, honors, treasures, and anything that hinders us from full blessing must be rejected. Third, we as believers are crucified, no longer responsive to the world's temptations. The first cross speaks of the basis of our salvation, the second deals with the result of our salvation, and the third points to the living out of that salvation from day to day.

Can you truthfully and enthusiastically say with Paul, "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"? When you can say that, you're making a sacrifice that will reap eternal rewards. —Henry G. Bosch (ODB Editor 1956-1981)  — Henry G. Bosch