October 4, 2011
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 New American Standard
God’s heart for you is unrelenting. Jesus wants your life connected to His life. He wants your life abiding .. trusting .. relying upon .. and confidently yielded to His Life in you. He knows there are parts of you that like to be alone .. likes to be in charge .. likes to judge .. likes to re-shape the truth .. and likes to walk your own path. He knows that your “likes” always end up dehydrated .. drifting .. and desperate. And yet .. Jesus invites you to know exactly who He is and invites you to place your life in the center of His life. He is the vine: the source of life .. the source of your strength .. the source of your security .. and the real fruit producer within you. Everyday you face sometimes “hundreds” of little choices and decisions to live life on your terms or on His. Abiding in Christ is not about giving up but about being identified with His life. As “The Major” has said: “Only Christ can live the christian life because He is the christian life.” Therefore .. you can rest assured that Christ is offering you nothing less that All of Himself as you face this day and everything in front of you. That could mean lists and lists or even a blank page .. but He offers you His whole life to live in you and you in Him. No one else will offer you such a life today. What does your day hold…? It only takes a moment …
“And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.” 1 John 2:28 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Cross Alive Abiders following Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org) … Thanks to Nate at Samson Society and Major Ian Thomas .. a Christ-abider who laughed this truth all over the world!
Grace Gripped 