As you go about another ordinary day, you’re no ordinary human being. The Lord of hosts is conquering and advancing his kingdom through you. As you make your kids lunch and sweep the hallway, and change that diaper. As you ride the train to work, and swing that hammer, and fill out that spreadsheet, Jesus sings God’s praise and gives thanks through you. Rejoices in you. Shows himself to others through you.

Years ago, miserable in my slavery to sin, I cried out, “God please change me.” I didn’t ask him to save me, I just knew I needed help. Little did I know magnitude of my request. I asked God to kill me. To crucify me. To nail me to the cross with Jesus, who would then take up residence in me and begin to wield his power through me. The Lord of hosts who conquers through pots of clay.  And I knew nothing of his love for me.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life 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)

“I have been crucified with Christ.” If Jesus has saved you, you’re one with him. Organically joined to him. When he died, you died. This is decisive, life-altering, final. We’re no longer under sin’s thumb. We’re dead to it. We may not feel dead to it but we are.  It’s shackles are broken. We can walk away from it, even as it screams, “Get back here!” It’s someone that we used to know.

It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. This doesn’t mean your personality is gone. But Jesus now expresses himself through you and your unique personality. Do you long to glorify God? That’s you. And it’s Christ, who came to do his Father’s will in you. Do you desire to serve others? It’s you, and it’s Christ, the Servant of God in you. Do you love others? That’s Christ who first loved you, loving through you.

We live “by faith in the Son of God” – by trusting Jesus moment by moment. By turning to him throughout the day for strength. By continually asking him for grace to love, forgive, and lay down our lives for others. Minute by minute, hour by hour, trusting.

And how do we know he’ll change us? His vast, deep, mysterious love for each one us. “Who loved ME and gave himself for ME.”  Jesus didn’t die for some vast, faceless crowd. He died for Bill and Courtney Marie and Alvin.

He has bound you to himself with cords of love. The power of his death and life is vibrating and burning in you. He’s living, breathing, and moving through you. Surely he’ll give you strength, wisdom and grace to get through what you’re going through. Surely he’ll crush sin beneath your feet.

As you go about another ordinary day, you’re no ordinary human being. The Lord of hosts is conquering and advancing his kingdom through you. As you make your kids lunch and sweep the hallway, and change that diaper. As you ride the train to work, and swing that hammer, and fill out that spreadsheet, Jesus sings God’s praise and gives thanks through you. Rejoices in you. Shows himself to others through you.

Oh it’s you alright.  But it’s Jesus.  The Lord of hosts, who conquers through pots of clay.

Mark Altrogge is the original triple threat: singer, songwriter, pastor. He has been the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA for over 25 years, and is the author of many well known worship songs such as “I Stand In Awe”, and “In The Presence”. This article first appeared on his blog and is used with permission.