THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, July 7, 2023

Lord, our stories are different, yet your grace delivers the same glorious results.

For those raised in church and as a child, asked you into their hearts, your grace kept them from straying into an ungodly lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 1:8). As they grew in maturity, they understood the impact of their salvation, and again by your grace, live by your precepts.

Other Christ followers came to you via a more difficult road. Regardless of the extent of godlessness in which we once lived, we all had one thing in common: to some extent, our life devolved into a train wreck. Most only lost a few boxcars off the rails, while others completely derailed, rolled down the hillside and destroyed the surrounding villages.

Both the church-raised saint, and the train wrecked saint, when they came to you, found you are faithful, and you are trustworthy. What a joyful celebration! Our souls rejoiced to understand you delight in taking broken things, broken people, shattered lives, and redeeming them for your glory. We can’t stop talking about it.

The prophet Isaiah described your pleasure. You delight to give those you redeem “a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory,” (Isaiah 63:1 NIV).

It is you, Lord, who keeps us like a great oak. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says …” (1 Corinthians 1:8,9 NLT).  

I love being a Jesus oak. Amen.