March 2, 2010

“At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” Ephesians 1:23 The Message

The Great Exchange #6

Sin-scarred .. Sin-tired .. Sin-weary travelers turned into Unshakable-saints .. Unconditionally-loved .. Unbelievably-called Christ’s body. It didn’t happen on your own. In fact .. it never will. God came after you .. the you nobody really knows like Jesus knows you .. inside and out. He made a great exchange: His life for yours. His love .. whole .. healing & forgiving … for your love .. self-preserving .. insecure .. self-centered. There are no strings attached or hidden agendas. You’ve been given a new life. But God has done something with your life and any other life joined together by His Spirit: He’s formed you into The Called-Out Ones .. The Church .. known as the Body of Christ. He’s purposely hidden His life in you and your life in His so that the world you live in can see a difference of Who is in the center. On our own … we fail and fumble about “trying” to do God things and good works with good intentions. But God .. invites us to join him in the work he has already designed. He hasn’t wasted one day of your life .. even if you have wasted or ignored Him. He’s been there at the start — middle — and extravagant finish of your life. It may not feel that way .. but He has. The world would love to reduce your JesusLife to a few hours each week or annual events. But the life He has for you today is a resurrected life .. deeply loved .. grace filled .. and God at work .. through you! You’re this important to God’s start to finish gift. So don’t let old closets of the past .. old tapes of old messes .. and old ways discourage you from receiving the Jesus exchange for your life today. It only takes a moment …

“It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2:9-10 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to The Holy Wonder Called Church and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)