November 5, 2009
“I am the bread of life .. I am the light of the world .. I am the good shepherd .. I am the resurrection and the life .. I am the way and the truth and the life .. I am the vine ..” John 6:35, 8:12, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5 New American Standard
Is there room for anyone …?
His life has been scrutinized to find something to disqualify him .. His ministry has been minimized to distract us from his offer .. and His followers are ostracized to scare away anyone longing for real freedom. Jesus offers everyone a generous life .. inside and out. Anyone can have this life: the broken .. the hungry .. the lost .. the diseased .. the dying .. the privileged .. the powerless .. the gifted .. the untalented .. the unloved .. the up and out .. the down and out .. the desperate .. those who have given up .. and those who have much to give. He offers the same life to anyone longing for real life. He offers fresh starts .. new beginnings .. and a life that bears fruit when it is intimately connected to Him. There is no hidden agenda. The very thing within you that disqualifies you will be the very place where you will find his acceptance .. his help .. his healing .. his fresh start .. and his absolute grip of grace upon your life. He said .. you wouldn’t hunger or thirst anymore .. you wouldn’t walk in darkness anymore .. you wouldn’t be alone or abandoned anymore .. you wouldn’t live in the fear of death anymore .. you wouldn’t have to find your own way anymore .. and you wouldn’t have to try to produce something good from your life from your own strength anymore. For apart from Me you can do nothing. He wasn’t saying this to shame you .. to force you .. or to bruise you. He told you this so that you would know and trust the greatness of his life for you and in you as you live for him. And when you do .. your life becomes an offering for others to meet and trust the I-AM One. There is plenty of room for you. It only takes a moment …
” .. you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 New American Standard
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
