March 17, 2010
“Generous in love — God, give grace! Huge in mercy — wipe out my bad record. … What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter em, then; conceive a new, true life. … God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. … Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!” Psalm 51:1-6-10-12 The Message
What is God after in your life …?
Everything about God is generous. He’s pursued you with an all-out-consuming-acceptable love when you felt anything but acceptable or worth being pursued. He has wiped out your life record of trying to live life without Him. It was the only way for you to know and rest in the truth that God the Father is a God of loving truth that truly loves you from the inside out. Oh … you’ll test the limits of His love. You’ll try to manage the chaos and smile on the outside .. knowing that you are coming apart on the inside .. but hoping you can just turn the corner and everything will work out in the end. It’s a lie .. a sin-filled .. sin-amputating lie. The best your life can every achieve .. no matter how impressive the trappings is a “gray exiled life” trying to breathe fresh air through stale air chambers of your heart. But the heart hungry for the Lord’s fresh-start longs for a new life. And that’s where Jesus enters into your whole life’s arena. Jesus, and Jesus alone knows what your real reality looks like in you. There is nothing that you will face today that is outside of His deep and intimate knowledge of all of the broken pieces of your life. Nothing in you is outside of His reach and inexhaustible help. So … He’s made it very plain: Walk right up to him .. and receive what He so generously wants to give you. He’s experienced it all except the guilt .. shame .. and buried lies about yourself and those you love. He’s after your life where His truth (His life) invades and indwells every living fiber in you. It may take a long time .. but Jesus has guaranteed his mercy and help to all who ask and reach out and receive. It only takes a moment .. a God filled .. Jesus secured moment that will last forever …
“Now that we know what we have — Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God — let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all — all but the sin. So, let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy , accept the help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to the JesusFollowers and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
