February 18, 2010
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 The Message
Did God really mean it …?
Yes He does. No condemnation … No black clouds hovering over your heart or mind … No more tyrants masquerading under past sins …! All those lies still try to capture you and drain you from living life in His Spirit daily. They appear in various forms: circumstances .. something you see that causes you to remember the past .. job stress .. marriage stress .. totally unrelated moments that whisper condemnation and rejection. This is the world we live in everyday. But it is not the world you belong to forever. God really means what He says about living life in His Son … through His Spirit. And He really means what He says about His Son living his life in you … through His Spirit. And He really means what He says about no more black clouds hovering and haunting you. You are breathing “clean air” in Christ. In Christ .. you are loved beyond anything imaginable. In Christ .. you are free .. absolutely free from the power of sin and death. Sin is real and death is real .. but .. you are no longer under their dictatorship. In Christ .. there is no condemnation of your life .. no low-lying black cloud over your life. If you’ve walked this path then you know how fresh the air is and you don’t want to go back. But if this path is new .. then your first steps will feel strange because Christ’s breath breathing into your life is like none other. He means it … about your life being free in Him. He means it … there is no more condemnation in your life in Him. He means it … His Holy Spirit has moved in your life and you will not walk alone ever again. It only takes a moment …
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 The New Living Translation
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Christ-is-Risen Followers and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
