March 30, 2011
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” Ephesians 1:4 The Message
Holy lives: Is God really serious about living this kind of life … really?
We’re not used to being told to be someone or something that we inherently know is impossible. We can pretend .. look a certain way .. adopt a way of talking or not talking .. and eliminate anything or anyone who might be a bad influence. But after a while we become worn out trying to live a life that is impossible to live. So how could God call us to live an impossible life? Possibly because He knows that unless something so deep inside changes .. you will never be able to be holy. And yet .. holy is exactly the word and world that Jesus is shaping your life to fit in. A long time ago being holy meant not eating certain insects and swarming things .. revering your father and mother and staying away from idols .. and refusing to sacrifice your children to false gods or seeking God-sized answers in godless forms. The word holy is not used much today. It usually conjures up negative images of being ultra-religious. But God hasn’t changed His mind or His purposes for your life. He still calls you to be holy … because He is holy. It means your life is full with laughter .. beauty .. love .. freedom .. boldness .. tenderness .. compassion .. joy .. peace .. faith-full-ness .. and creation-wonder-filled discoveries. It means that Jesus is the life you’ve chosen instead of trying to find life in yourself. You realize you can’t get there on your own and you’re tired of trying and failing and trying some more and failing some more. Jesus invites you to “abide in Me” .. to spend your life living in His life and discovering that this same storm-calming .. leper-cleansing .. dead-raising .. water-to-wine making .. cross-hanging carpenter’s Son is serious about living His life in you. He doesn’t have any problems with being holy .. and doesn’t have a problem with being holy inside your life. You won’t feel holy very much. He didn’t call you to feel holy. He called you to be holy and that His specialty because His love is holy. So .. you can live your life today .. being who you are .. resting in God’s hilarious promise that He is making your holy life real through His Son. How ….? It only takes a moment….
“You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.” Lev. 11:44 .. 19:2 .. 20:7 New American Standard
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to the Holy Fellowship of Abiders in Christ and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org) (Abide onward Jeff Harris!)
