November 18, 2011

“So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” 1 Peter 4:19 The Message

What an irrevocable gift it is to know that your life is “Christ-approved”. All those places inside of you that crave approval .. acceptance .. and affirmation find their proper place in Christ. Without Him .. you’ll look to false sources for approval and they never last. Each day is a gift from God to trust Him for this day. He doesn’t call you to set out your plans and ask Him to bless them. He invites you to enter into His plans for your life and mixed all those clear and sometimes unclear moments is the gift to trust Him. You’re trusting that God’s whole business for your life is good. We too often set out on our own courses hoping that the Lord will give his silent approval and assistance as needed. But He wants so much more. This Jesus had his life “thrown out” for you so that you could become God’s living sanctuary where His life dwells. He’s doing all this work in you in the very un-smooth places of your life. Why there? Because that is where you’ll usually surrender and that is precisely where the Lord wants to make your life Christ-approved. You may even face some harsh realities of accepting Christ’s promise .. but don’t worry … Jesus isn’t going to give up on you. And what about today…? It only takes a moment …

“Welcome to the Living Stone, the source of life. The workman took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present your yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. ” 1 Peter 2:4-5 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Accepted and Laughed-over Building stones following Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)