February 26, 2010

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19-20 New Living Translation

The Great Exchange #4

His life exchanged for yours … Sin-dead sinners turned into Resurrected-saints … and now Common dust particles formed into Holy citizens of grace. Everything about your life and everywhere you go is littered with God’s holiness. How …? Because God not only calls you to be holy .. He declares that you are holy .. and He backs it up with the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Most of the time we don’t feel like saints. Most of the time we have no idea what Holy feels like inside our lives. It is hidden so deep that we can’t see it but others are infected by it. It happens all day long .. kind words .. a thank you .. a quiet prayer in a restaurant .. sacrificing your time .. a gift given in love .. “doing” your job well because you know your life is hidden in Christ. God didn’t call you to be holy at certain moments. He is shaping your life into a God-shaped-life of Christ’s incredible greatness and resurrection love. You alone know what kind of common dust particles God is working with in your life. You know where they’ve been … what they’ve done .. and what they are capable of doing. And yet .. God doesn’t even hesitate to call you holy because of His Son’s risen life living within you. You can let yourself be pulled along today .. pulled deeper into the Only Life that is worth living and the Only Life that you will truly love living … in Christ. The world you live in screams silently in fear. The world you are being shaped for celebrates in the heavenly realms. That’s why you have become a citizen of grace .. so that God’s holiness .. His incredible love .. and Son-raising power might infect .. invade .. and indwell someone you meet today. That’s what happened when He exchanged His life for yours and you believed him.  It only takes a moment…

“As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” ” 1 Peter 1:16 The Message

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