February 25, 2010

” … To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 1:1 New King James Version

The Great Exchange #3

You may not like your name but you can’t change it. It was picked out for you by someone else. Actually .. it became you when he became what you were. To the saints … that’s you. It describes who you are in Christ. It is an uncomfortable name .. a holy adjective .. a crucified noun .. a resurrected life. We’re not accustomed to looking at others as saints. But they are. They didn’t earn it. They don’t become one through nomination. They became one through identification. Saints wake up with all kinds of struggles .. fears .. doubts .. moments of uncertainty .. life-pressures .. and sometimes very un-saintly attitudes.  Saints look like you .. someone who exchanged a life centered in sin for a life centered in Christ. Are there rough spots …? Yep! Are there smooth places …? Yep!. Are there half-saints …? Nope! When you became alive in Christ .. when the JesusLife became your life .. You became a saint. It becomes the life you live everyday. You’re just a  normal looking once-dead .. now-alive follower of Jesus. And He turned you into a saint so that you could begin to infect the world you live in with the indwelling life of Christ. The great news is you don’t have to try to live this life on your own. You get the saint-helper: The Holy Spirit to live in you .. to help you .. to work in you .. to guide you .. to grow you into the holy one you really are in Christ. God’s not messing around when it comes to your life. He’s there for you today … moment by moment .. and it only takes a moment .. to begin with His help …

” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Cor. 5:21 New Living Translation

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Unlikely but Deliberately Chosen Saints following Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)