August 18, 2017

“..We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.” Luke 15:23-24 The Message

Jesus is now what He was … and has always been. He described what God the Father is like. There isn’t a journey to far that He can’t find you. When you stray the way is wide open .. made open by a stronghold-breaking .. burdens-carrying .. shame-overcoming .. and sin-defeating cross. He’s a party throwing Father. You probably won’t ever get used to that image because it seems too extravagant measured against how far you may stray. Nevertheless, Jesus throws the doors wide open to what a life can look like wrapped up in the Father’s redeeming grace: Lost now found .. dead now alive .. and set free from other’s stifling expectations. Jesus has gone to the farthest lengths possible to break down all the barriers that keep your life from being set free. There isn’t anything in your life that the cross cannot carry. There’s no shame buried too deep. You’ve got a wearying habit that you’ve tried to break or stop? You drift back into the “please everybody” pressures? You can’t make yourself take the first steps to to heal a relationship .. or you’ve tried and the walls grew larger? Then place a cross at that intersection with Jesus dismantling any and every wall that would keep Him out. He’s taken the steps long before you ever asked.  You don’t have all the parts of your life lined up perfectly? He’ll start with the parts you bring Him and begin adding His own parts. You’re invited ..  It only takes a moment …

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.” Galatians 6:14 The Message

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