July 19, 2016
“In conclusion, my brothers, delight yourselves in the Lord! It doesn’t bore me to repeat a piece of advice like this, and if you follow it you will find it a great safeguard to your souls.” Philippians 3:1 JB Phillips
There are so many voices competing for your heart. Everyday starts with your own particular distractions to keep you from beginning with delight .. thankfulness .. and praise. We are easily conditioned to think of delight as a product of completing a task .. and doing it well. Thankfulness is the fruit of Christ’s indwelling life ..filling you with grace .. living in His daily care .. and trusting in His strength. The prison-chained-apostle reminds you that delighting in the Lord “safeguards your soul”. How easily we let our guard down or neglect the very center of living healthy in Christ. You’ll find your very ambitions changing .. not through guilt but in love. You’ll begin to to take on Christ’s heart for those around you. It is the life Jesus longs for you to share and live with Him. And it is the life you were made to taste and share with others. It only takes a moment …
“How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection; now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10 JB Phillips
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Christ’s Delighted (kchesterp1@gmail.com)