Tension, it is such a dynamic part of our faith.  And yet one of the hardest things for us to embrace.  Since the dawn of the Modern Age, men have sought to streamline our thinking, our processes and our Theology, the problem is the God of the Ancient Scriptures is a tad bit messy, organic and lets be honest vague.

No where does this seem more apparent than within the new testament struggle between a faith of Grace and a faith of Works.  We have spent a month discovering and reciting that God isn’t into my behavior he is into my becoming.  That transformative work that He does through the power of His own Holy Spirit and work within us.

Ephesians 6:8-9 say for it is by grace we have been saved through faith, not works so no one can boast (Jerry’s loose paraphrase) but verse 10 says, because we were created for good works!?!  What?

Here is the challenge, And don’t tell Eddie I told you this because I may be stealing a little of his thunder, our behavior isn’t going to get us anywhere with God!  But if we are getting anywhere with God it will definitely show up in our behavior.  Ask yourself, do I look like Jesus?  Does my life reflect the man I see in the pages of His story?  If someone were watching me could they confuse me for Him?  If the answer is no, the solution isn’t to change my behavior, that it ultimately a lie.  The solution is get filled up with Him so there is noting left of me to come out.

So that when the day comes that what is in my heart pierces the filters of my sou what others see is a likeness of Christ, the Image of God, a Son of Man.

Let me challenge you, dance with the Divine this week.  Spend time soaking in his love and his nature.  Let the waves of his eternal nature pass over you and remake you in His own image.  Be new in Him.

Dear Father,

Forgive me when out of arrogance or pride I try to imitate your life.  Forgive me when in a cloud of self indulgence I seek to serve you with my strength.  Forgive me when I have the twisted notion that there is something in me worth offering to others.

And then fill me with your divine nature.  Transform me into a perfect likeness of my creator and King.  Teach me to humbly allow you to do your work through my life.  Show me what a life fully turned over to you looks like and fulfill the purposes that you had in me before the foundations of the world.

I in you, you in me, Perfect!

Stunned,

Jerry

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