August 10, 2010
“… his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through Him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others wh receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus.” Romans 1:3-5 The Message
Your unique identity…?
There is no one like you: Your DNA .. Your family .. Your life history. There is one life-history that is very simple but you’ll find it in the most complicated and complex situations and relationships. His life reads like this: Son of God .. Messiah .. Master .. raised from the dead. Those last four words will forever change your life. His life gives you a true new identity. No matter how good life gets in this life ..there is something inside of you that you can’t fix. You can disguise it .. relocate it .. and try and control it. But you can’t change the deepest things that make you who you are. Only God can. And the biggest surprise is that God doesn’t change what you think needs changing. He changes those things in you that will give you the same identity as His Son. For that .. Jesus took on every identity ever created and carried yours and everyone else who trusts in Him to the grave. And then .. He rose from the dead and gives you the power and life today to live a life of trust in His life in you. It is His life that gives you a new identity .. His risen life. Anything else that you trust in will not last. And between what is real and false is the identity-healer called grace. Even at this moment God is working in your heart and mind bringing you to wholeness in His Risen Life .. in you! The “one thing” in front of your life today is whether you are going to live trusting in Christ or trying to make your identity on your own. It only takes a moment …
“The unknown is now known, and he’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30b-31 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Radically-Raised followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (Ken@priorityone.org)
