October 10, 2017
“We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created.” Colossians 1:15 The Message
When you’re trying to figure out what your life looks like and how it fits into this world .. you look at this Son. Why? It goes against everything we’ve been taught in this world. *What do you want to do? *It’s your choice. *You can do anything you put your mind to. The list goes on and on. You don’t find yourself by looking inside yourself. The real you is found starting with Jesus. Why him? Because he was and is the only perfect man who ever lived. When you do this, you find God has been patiently working around and through all the issues .. dislocated parts .. fears .. mistakes .. broken areas .. insecurities .. and longings in your life. How? Through this same Son. His work in you always points towards His Son. Christ has all the room you need. All the sharp angles of your life .. all the wounded places .. and all the neglected areas find their proper place in Christ. There’s room for everything that has to do with your life. God isn’t waiting for you to sort out the good from the bad or the acceptable from the unacceptable. He holds out His Son with the full knowledge of your life and invites you “take hold of” .. “trust in” .. and “follow” the One Life you long to live. You think you need to be prepared to hear disappointment? What if he condemns how you’ve lived? What he says is “I became all your condemnation”. You don’t need to carry it any longer. And suddenly you discover that this word called faith is simply the God-sized space where you find love .. life .. and a Son who can’t stop smiling at you. He sees the real you. As one old pastor says: You don’t have to wear those grave clothes any longer. There’s a new wardrobe with your name on it. It only takes a moment …
“So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds it proper place in him without crowding.” Colossians 1:19 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Outrageously Fashioned Followers of Jesus. (kchesterp1@gmail.com)
Grace Gripped 