None of us knows how long we have here on earth before our time is up, or as we in Jesus say, before the Lord takes us "home". But I think it's important to note that while we're to live as those who are ready for our Lord's return- any day, now- we need also to be ready to honor God with our lives, over the long haul. This is what it means for us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, in gratitude for his mercies to us in Jesus- an act of true worship (Romans 12:1).
To be in it in this way is to be faithful to the end, not to the bitter end, either, though at times life may very well seem bitter. But God is with us in Jesus by the Spirit, to take off the edge, and add a sweetness that is of him, into the mix. This is how we're to live, not a down in the mouth, servile, grim existence, but a delighted, joyful, spontaneous, prayerful, sober, serious, hilarious even, trust in our God- kind of life and existence.
Grace and our response with obedient faith, alone will enable us to do this. And this is not a solitary existence, but one in company with others. Commitment to the Lord and to each other and others and to the world in which we are placed, because of Jesus. And through everything we encounter. We need to see ourselves as in it, in Jesus, for the long haul.
What might this mean for you, or what would you like to share here?
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4 comments:
i am not sure all that it means for me...but, i guess i will find out with lots of God's grace.
it is funny though, because i am thinking of a name change and, as it stands right now, my first name of nancy means grace and my second name of marie means bitter. of which both you mention here in your blog today.
For me it means embrace our life in Christ now. I know that is a huge statement. I just have to try and define it.
Nancy,
Grace makes all the difference in the world, and can turn the bitter into sweet. Life itself will serve up bitter offerings, but then through God in Christ, by grace, how can we face them, and what might be the outcome- is one way to look at it.
I think of Stephen being stoned and the impact that has had in different ways through Scripture, as well as the impact I supposed it had on Saul/Paul in God's working.
Mike,
Yes. Some of the best statements have so much in them that we pack in or need to unpack to sufficiently begin to get understanding in them. But I like this thought of embracing our life in Christ now. Only then will we be enabled to be in this for the long haul, and of course, really in it the way God wants us to be, itself at times, a challenging process, but with much of grace and the Spirit to help us, as well.
I'll keep that statement in mind.
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