May 18, 2009

” The One who died for us — who was raised to life for us! — is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, no homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: ” Romans 8:34-35 The Message

What kind of love holds you together …?

There is only One Real Love. The One that changes your life by loving every single part of you. The One that doesn’t demand .. expect .. manipulate .. or control you. The One that loves you so freely and unconditionally that you’ll test it .. doubt it .. blame it .. run from it .. make fun of it .. fall apart in it .. and finally .. you’ll open your heart to the One Love you’ve longed for all of your life. We live in a world that defines love by whatever you want it to be for your life. It’s not a real love. It’s a “just for now” love. It doesn’t have the power to change you … really change you. It does have the power to mislead you .. offer temporary comfort .. or simply leave you the way you are. The One Real Love redeems the worst places and memories of your life .. restores you to your true identity .. and protects you against unimaginable circumstances. It doesn’t offer you a free pass from suffering .. pain .. or disappointment. It does declare that “nothing” can separate you from the love of Jesus. Only Real Loved Ones who know the One Real Lover find help and hope in this promise. The One Real Love who holds you together at this very moment invites you to learn today what it means to love the life that Jesus is living in you and to “live freely in everything unlike him”. It only takes a moment … and another moment … and another moment…

“None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:37-39

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Real-Loved Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)