July 18, 2013
“They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.” 1 Peter 2:23-24 The Message
What does this new life look like …?
Your new life in Jesus is a life that expands, not by achieving .. accomplishing .. acquiring .. making deals .. bargaining .. earning .. or scheming. It seems inconceivable that an expanding kingdom life begins with death. Jesus dies at your worst places .. your worst thoughts about God .. your worst of everything-places that sow death inside of you. And then it happens .. resurrection life .. a life you are incapable of living or sustaining on our own. A life of freedom through sacrifice where Christ’s death becomes the very ground of God’s acceptance in your life. It is an ever-expanding freedom that only deepens into all those un-free places in your life. Jesus expands his life into all those places where you’ve suffered or hidden: places of shame .. guilt .. accusations .. blame .. self-punishments .. seductive illusions and addictions .. and contaminated condemnations. Grace .. Grace .. and Grace .. It is an on-going and ever-expanding life of God putting you together into a wholeness that you’ve only dreamed about. JesusLife is shalom .. wholeness .. peace .. rest ..energy .. strength like no other .. love that grows sweeter .. and friendships that grow seamlessly all around you. You can give it away because the life of Jesus keeps expanding on the inside .. growing deeper .. and growing outward. It only takes a moment …
If, when were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life!” Romans 5:10 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Ever-Expanding Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One
