The Companion of Our Souls
When the two disciples recognized Jesus as he broke the bread for them in their house in Emmaus, he “vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:31). The recognition and the disappearance of Jesus are one and the same event. Why? Because the disciples recognized that their Lord Jesus, the Christ, now lives in them … that they have become Christ-bearers. Therefore, Jesus no longer sits across the table from them as the stranger, the guest, the friend with whom they can speak and whom they can receive good counsel. He has become one with them. He has given them his own Spirit of Love. Their companion on the journey has become the companion of their souls. They are alive, yet it is no longer them, but Christ living in them (see Galatians 2:20).
—Henri J. M. Nouwen,
Bread for the Journey
Galatians 2:20 declares a radical truth: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” In these words, Paul isn’t speaking metaphorically—he’s pointing to a spiritual reality that transforms everything. When we place our faith in Jesus, our old identity—marked by sin, striving, and self—is put to death. In its place rises a new life, not defined by our own strength or merit, but by Christ living in us. This is the essence of the gospel: not just forgiveness, but union with Christ. To live this way is to walk daily in the reality that our lives are no longer our own. We now live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and gave Himself for us. This truth grounds us when we feel weak, rejected, or uncertain. We no longer need to earn God’s approval or build our worth—Christ is our life. And in Him, we are fully accepted, deeply loved, and forever changed. May this truth bless and encourage you today and every day—YOU are a beloved child of God … and nothing changes that truth! —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics