from an article originally posted September 8, 2014…
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No condemnation. None. Never. In Christ means nothing can condemn me today, this day or any day. That is a freeing truth. The IN CHRIST I enjoy frees me for freedom. I then, in turn, get to spend my freedom well. I get to spend my freedom telling of this freedom. I get to face the dreaded snort today with no condemnation. Maybe a little trepidation, but no condemnation.
And if you long to understand living in Christ, take a long look at John 15. Living near to the one that died for your freedom. Living in Christ is the joy of walking near to love, seeking faith, living loved, abundantly loved. But what it doesn’t mean—what it doesn’t mean—is that life will be easy. Those that would tell you that it would be a simple life are mistaken.
No, nearness to Jesus means we are also asked to do hard things.
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
No, living free does not mean living an easy life. Living without condemnation of the freedom we are granted to walk into our hards, each of us is the greatest gift of faith. But it does not mean that we will be free from suffering. NO, we get to partner with Jesus in hard, and walk into that hard without condemnation.
You see, I have grown to HATE all snorts. HATE. But today, there is a lady that will do my endless injections; I’m not going to pour that hate onto her. No, by God’s grace, I might even have an opportunity to love her today. I may hate the snort of today, but it has no power to condemn me. No matter what the snort has to say, no matter what cancer makes itself known on the screen, I am a kept woman. That—no condemnation—lifts my face. It secures my destination, and in the strength of my brokenness I can walk into today with a freedom and strength not my own.
Think on this verse today, ponder it, wonder upon this verse. From the overflow of the strength of such a truth, how will you live differently today? Courage grows from this kind of truth. Beautiful courage to do hard things, to love big, to move beyond the boundaries of yourself today and into the grace of Jesus. Meet a stranger, love someone who’s hurting, surprise your husband with giant affection, tenderly and faithfully love your littles today. From the overflow of the grace in your life, you can live without the condemnation that whispers lies in your going. You can live secure, a security that has nothing to do with comfort in this place, but assurance in the next. Brave and courageous—that’s how I want to walk into my scary snort today—but maybe I will shoot for not condemned. That is a courage all its own.
