September 15, 2017
“..As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession — a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, “Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.” Luke 7:12-15 The Message
Jesus seems to walk up on every kind of life .. yours included. He’s picking up a man in ditch one moment. He’s running down the road after a Father-hungry son the next. He’s stopping to touch a diseased man who’s unwelcome everywhere. He looks at a “humiliated-woman-thrown-at-his feet” and tells her he doesn’t condemn her .. not even a little. If you’re following this Jesus you’ll find yourself crossing every kind of life as well. He’s never caught off guard around broken .. hungry .. blind .. lonely .. diseased .. discarded .. worn out .. and God-starved lives. What do they and you have in common? A longing for a kind of love that makes you more alive than ever. His heart breaks over a widow at a funeral. His heart still breaks at loss .. grief .. death .. and being all alone in your life. Just like a widow being given her son back alive .. Jesus loves to present you with life-raising grace. He’s never surprised when He walks up on a sin-dead life. His heart still breaks but His love breaks–out beyond measure. If Jesus touched a coffin .. how much more will He reach into your life? His mercy is wide enough for a Father-hungry-pig-smelling son to find his way home. His love looks into the eyes of a “caught-woman” and indelibly speaks into her heart: “Neither do I condemn you”. Wherever He goes .. Whoever He encounters .. and Whatever situation He walks upon … there’s always a place in His company for you. It only takes a moment …
“Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.” Ephesians 2:4-6 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to the company of Jesus followers. (kchesterp1@gmail.com)
