July 28, 2009
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love.” John 15:11-12 The Message
Who wouldn’t want this out in the open secret … ?
Jesus wants you to have his joy … the same joy he lived on earth and the same joy that he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The circumstances don’t matter. You can be facing a terrible day with unknowns that consume your energies and emotional reserves. You can be facing a day full of eagerly planned moments. You can be facing a day that holds no highs or lows. In all of these .. Jesus wants you to have his joy. You can’t manufacture His joy. It can only be formed in you by the Source. He always had time for his friends and his life was daily available for God’s agenda in the lives of others. What about the love of Jesus …? He didn’t make up any rules. He just said that if you are his follower .. then love like he loved you and is loving you today. His love may interrupt your schedule. It may be inconvenient and seemingly out of the way. But how could it be if you simply .. personally .. and profoundly offer your life to Jesus today to live His life through you? The world says “grab” .. Jesus says “give”. The world says “achieve” .. Jesus says abide. The world says to make yourself first .. Jesus says to make him first. The open secret of Jesus is for you to love others in such a way that they will personally experience the love of Jesus through your life. Will you make your life available today …? It only takes a moment …
“Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. You old birth came mortal sperm, your new birth comes from God’s living Word: a life conceived by God himself! 1 Peter 1:22-23 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to God-himself conceived Jesus-Followers and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
