July 3, 2014

“The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself.” Romans 3:22-23 The Message

There is so much that has gone wrong .. with us ..with the world we live in .. with how we live with each other in Christ. Some realize they have indeed “compiled a sorry record of sins”. Some know they sin but feel they’ve tried to do right .. live right .. and believe the right things. We fight over sins .. degrees of sins .. and just who Jesus really put in “right standing”. The battle has raged forever … that God is not trustworthy and His Word is not reliable. He speaks of sin and how far we’ve strayed from the life He created and wants to bless. We say His Word has to change with time .. customs .. and cultures. And yet .. time has only proven how far we are willing to stray from God’s Word .. God’s will .. and God’s way. We are “utterly incapable of living” the life God desires .. even when we try over and over on our own. We want help .. and sometimes that’s all. And yet, God steps in with “sheer generosity” and makes things right with us and Him. It’s personal .. it’s about faith .. it’s only found in Christ. No one outside of personal faith in Christ is right. You lose your life to gain His life. You can’t earn your freedom .. fight for your freedom .. or make your own definition of freedom. But you can believe into freedom .. trust into freedom .. and receive the restoring freedom that Jesus has fought for you. It is a gift .. pure and simple. Are you walking in this freedom today? It only takes a moment …

“A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:24 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Generously Failed and More-Generously Freed Followers of Jesus. (Kchesterp1@gmail.com)