October 12, 2012
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matt. 5:48 The Message
What incredible freedom Jesus wants for your life. He wants you to reflect God’s generosity and graciousness. He isn’t being cruel when he tells you to live this way. He’s reminding you of who you are and how you are to love those who don’t show much love. You may even think of them as enemies. We think of enemies as those we wish to avoid. Jesus tells us to love them .. and to pray for them with all the generosity and graciousness that God showed you. You can’t live this way on your own. He’s calling you to live a life that is impossible to live without Him. Your generosity will run out. You’ll tire of being gracious in an un-gracious world. Jesus described his own life as such: He couldn’t do anything independent from his Father. And Jesus wants the same relationship for your life: where you will live out of the kingdom-freedom of God’s generosity. Even more so, this Son wants to live in you with the same relationship he lived with his Father. The lines of living in “this world” can easily become blurred in circumstances and internal desires. The “world” is telling you to live your ‘god-created independence’ or to assert yourself because you’ve earned it or deserve it. But Jesus didn’t live that way. He chose to live intimately dependent upon his Father. He showed us what living generously and graciously in love with God looks like everyday. He showed us what it looks like in the face of obstinate opposition and constant personal attacks. He could have struck out on his own .. but he chose to live with his eyes on his Father .. and not on himself. And Jesus knows that this is the choice facing you today: to live independently and ask God for help or to live intimately in His presence and trust his generosity and grace. The Father’s great gift to you is His Son. And in Christ you’ll find all the generosity and grace you’ll ever need. …. and it only takes a moment …
“So Jesus explained himself at length. “I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing.” John 5:19-20 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
