You know what it’s like when you’re about to tell someone a secret. Or when they want to tell you a secret. You “lean into” the other person with eager expectation. Even excitement. There are many kinds of secrets to share with a friend in life. And the best ones are secrets about your life in Christ.
So – let’s tear into it!
Tear Into It – Secrets About Your Life In Christ
There are always four categories we explore in Scripture Dissection:
- What Does It Say?
- What Does It Mean?
- Make It Personal
- Make A Commitment.
1. What Does It Say?
It’s exciting to explore secrets about your life in Christ! Let’s dig into some excellent verses that will guide us.
- “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Cor. 15:10)
- “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3)
- “He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14)
- “. . . close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18)
- “Christ Jesus . . . is at the right hand of God . . . also interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34)
Simply and beautifully put – that’s what those verses say.
2. What Does It Mean?
Now we dig into the secrets about your life in Christ. To do this – some questions to ponder –
- How do you see yourself? How do your skillsets and personality shape you? Do you believe you have special purpose?
- Do you believe God loves you – strongly?
- Do you accept yourself as God created you? Are you aware of your limitations?
- What losses and hurts have you suffered? Are you broken-hearted or crushed in spirit?
- Do you believe Jesus is praying for you regularly?
Our Verses
Now that you’ve pondered these questions, let’s interact with our verses.
- “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Cor. 15:10) You are in a good place by His grace. Incidentally, this also means God’s work in your life changes you. It’s not for nothing, and there will be results.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3) Simply put, this verse guarantees God will always love you – strongly!- “He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14) Apparently, God accepts you are limited. He intimately knows your design – formed from the earth. So, He never expects more from you than you are capable of giving.
- “. . . close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18) Do you believe God is close to you when you are broken and crushed? He promises to help you in your most desperate times. Plus, God will never break His promises.
- “Christ Jesus . . . is at the right hand of God . . . also interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34) What an encouraging Scripture! Jesus, Himself, is literally praying for you – at God’s right hand!
This is what those verses mean.
3. Make It Personal
It’s one thing to know Scripture – and what it means. Still, it’s quite another thing to apply it in daily practical ways. So, let’s make it personal.
Secrets About Your Life
Here’s an amazing secret about your life.
You play a critical part in God’s plan. Additionally, you are NOT a mistake. In other words, it’s no accident you are alive here and now. God created you with a specific design in mind. Plus, He loves you dearly!
Summary:
- You have an important part to play in God’s plan.
- Additionally, you are NOT a mistake.
- It’s no accident you are alive here and now.
- God created you with a specific design in mind.
- God loves you dearly.
What a great secret about your life in Christ! God whispers these five things to you. Are you leaning into Him to hear?
Grace And Peace
Interestingly, God intends to pour His grace and peace into your life. So, with His blessing, you can freely “be you.” However, this means you need to get “on board” with secrets about your life in Christ. Incidentally, getting on board starts with your Heavenly Father – the same Father Jesus has.
How well do you know your Heavenly Father? Subsequently, are you absolutely sure about these things:
- God is full of compassion for you, even when you fail.
- Equally, He overflows with comfort when you suffer, are mistreated, or are misjudged.
- Additionally, He desires to help you.
- Further, God wants to heal your heart and life.
Because God esteems and loves you, why not enjoy His secrets about your life in Christ? Get busy “being yourself.”
Why God Sees It This Way
Why would God invest so heavily in your life? Equally, why provide secret resources and compassionate restorations? What motivates His heart to be so intimately involved, particularly in areas of weakness or on-going struggle?
It has everything to do with His great love for you. The Bible says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3)
God also knows how hard and painful this life is. He is very aware current conditions are not His original plan. Plus, He remembers you are made from the earth. “He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14)
Conclusion: God loves you, friend! He’s full of compassion for you. Further, He overflows with grace and mercy. Remarkably, He desires to pour continually into your life. So, the great secret? God has special purpose for your life!
God’s Perspective
God knows first-hand and up-front the sufferings of this world. Can you imagine the emotions He experiences as He oversees a broken creation? It’s not at all what He had in mind. A once-perfect, beautiful design He poured His heart into – surely doesn’t look the same!
Before time began, God spoke everything into existence.
- Vibrancy.
- Beauty.
- Power.
- Life.
- Color.
- Aroma.
- Sounds of joy.
- Comforting textures.
- Tastes beyond imagination. (If you think it’s awesome to bite into a ripe strawberry now, imagine the original version.)
Conclusion: God wants to restore His original design into your life. It’s a process that begins now and extends into eternity. So, “live the secret!”
Jesus’ Perspective
Jesus must have had such a mix of emotions as He walked and talked with people during His life on earth. As Creator – to see His people (and creation) in such pain and turmoil.
Nevertheless, Jesus still focuses on His original design. He has not abandoned it. Rather, He works to redeem, complete, and fulfill what He has in mind.
- Jesus brings hope into shattered ecstasy.
- He pours compassion into life’s rifts.
- Comfort into torn hearts.
- Solutions into hopelessness.
His great work culminates at the cross as He promises to make “all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)
Jesus, the God-man, personally experienced the effects of His broken creation. Remarkably, instead of dishing out punishment and retribution, He invites you to live in the secrets His life makes possible.
No Accident. Another Secret
As already mentioned, your life is no accident. Interestingly, the space and timeframe you occupy in history is part of God’s plan to make everything new.
God wants to weave His hope into your life when you trust Him for it. He also wants you to care about things He cares about.
Ultimately, He wants you to partner with Him to bring other people to Himself. Won’t you join Him to increase hope in other lives?
In other words – “being yourself” at this time in history is another secret about your life in Christ!
Comfort – Yet Another Secret
Comfort is mentioned so often in Scripture. Consequently, it’s another secret God keeps. Chances are – you need comfort. And so do others around you.
God commits to providing comfort. Will you receive comfort from Him? Will you provide comfort to others?
4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions
How do you see yourself? How do your skillsets and personality shape you? Do you believe you have special purpose and you are not an accident?- Do you believe God loves you – strongly?
- Do you accept yourself as God created you? Are you aware of your limitations?
- What losses and hurts have you suffered? Are you broken-hearted or crushed in spirit?
- Do you believe Jesus is praying for you regularly?
- How well do you know your Heavenly Father – the same Father Jesus has?
- Are you praying for people with broken hearts? How can you join Jesus in His prayers for others?
- Are you willing to open your heart for comfort from Jesus?
- Are you living in the secrets about your life in Christ? Which secrets should you work on?
* Portions of this content came from our book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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