A son

The lord has given us a picture if the future to orient us around the victory that is already ours and the conclusion of all things is unshakable and I will not be moved. It’s also this picture of God grabbing my face and here is how it ends and I know you are in a painful spot right now but you were made for this day and I made this day and I made you for this day. If you will orient your lives around this future hope then you can play your part well no matter how messy it is.

 Ephesians 2: 13 but now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near.

We were the far off, the covenant and promises

One brand new man so making peace reconciling us with God

His righteous was imputed on us. We both have access in one spirit so that we are no longer strangers but members of the house of God which grows into the holy temple to the lord

 

And in we are being build together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit. This is a celebration of sameness.

 

This new man is purchased by the blood

of Jesus in full surrender to his Lordship who sees now as the kingdom of God as their primary identity. and all other markers as secondary. 

This brings us to him. This allows me to behold the face of my King. Lord free to come to my father as a son and look him in the eyes and feel his delight.

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[e] the Spirit.

. Have you thought that you are too damaged, too broken, or too far from God to be used by Him? This idea that we must “fix” ourselves to come to God is a lie that can keep us trapped in shame and condemnation. The truth is that God loves us deeply and wants to meet us wherever we are, despite our sins. God blesses who you are, not who you pretend to be. Through an authentic relationship with God and receiving His love and mercy, we can open our hearts and minds to be purified by Him. We will always fall short of perfection; that is why we need Jesus to save and renew our lives. It's about progression and not perfection! As we lean into His presence and receive the free gift of his salvation and love, He will transform us, leading us to repentance and righteousness. We repent for times when we missed the mark in our words, thoughts, and actions. Our hearts and motives are purified as we experience His unconditional love, grace, and correction. Today, ask yourself, "what areas in my heart and motives can I surrender to the Lord to purify and make me more like Him?" Joy and freedom are found as we open our hearts and motives to be purified in God. We can re-present God and extend His grace and love to those around us. Imagine how our lives and those around us can be transformed through this time as we allow God to have His way in our hearts and minds!