June 21, 2017

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter in the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:4-6 The Message

You were that thought of … before earth’s foundations were laid out. God was already thinking about you. Nothing was held back even though you stole your freedom-to-prison life. No matter how good life was, you were always living orphaned-traced-lives until Jesus led you home. It’s still hard to imagine that God had prepared everything pleasing to him about your life. The everyday interruptions .. schedules and deadlines all figure into the life of Jesus making you whole and holy. It’s all very personal with God and He hopes it becomes as personal. Jesus really does want everything that goes into running and managing your life. He’s bought up any orphan claims  by adopting you. You have all the rights of being a true son and daughter through Christ. You believed and became a believer .. thus changing your life into a “believing” way of life. It doesn’t happen all at once .. although the Father already sees you whole and holy in His love. You’re becoming what you believed and believing is the only way or path you can walk today .. or tomorrow onward. Anything else will leave you wanting more .. half-hearted celebrations around this Full-Hearted-Son. It’s the same heart He wants to grow inside of you. Jesus already knows you cannot sustain this life without Him. You’ll break down. Nowhere does the Lord leave you to figure life out on your own : chosen .. adopted .. whole and holy are more than descriptions. They are the result of Jesus never turning his back on you while you ran from Him or acted nonchalantly over His offer. Today is yours to live out this miraculous gift of knowing Christ. If there’s anything in the way .. He gladly accepts broken things. It only takes a moment …

“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.” 2 Peter1:3 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Lavishly-loved followers of Jesus (kchesterp1@gmail.com)