Bragging Rights

S - Galatians 6:14-16 (NIV): "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God."

O - Jesus does not call us to a reconstituted version of ourselves … he calls us to accept a complete transformation to a new creation.  So complete is this transformation, so new is the being which we become in him, the only way to describe our former condition and this miraculous change is in terms of death and crucifixion.  The new creation is based on, formed in and sustained by the resurrection life and power of Jesus.  This is what "counts" [Galatians 5:6 - ἰσχύω: to have (or exercise) force, to have strength to overcome, to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds, to be robust, to be in sound health]." This is only rule which bestows peace and mercy. All others are weak, limited and lacking power. Crucifixion is not a quick process though it begins in a moment.  It is, however a complete process.  Jesus plus anything extends this process.  Jesus plus nothing brings his irrepressible and vibrant life to bear in the transforming reality which is his life.  Our entire lives are to be subject to and overtaken by this exchange.  John the Baptist got it right … he must increase and I must decrease.

A - I am in this dynamic process based upon the amazing grace, relentless love, defiant mercy and resurrection life of Jesus.  Growing in grace, decreasing in myself, being transformed are all ways of describing this relational exchange.  Jesus is not to be added to anything I already have.  He wants to transform everything into what it never was nor could be on its own.  He's not looking to make me something improved … he's insisting that I be transformed.  Amazing grace makes this amazing choice possible and the Lord of all allows my choice to carry the day.  I choose transformation.  I choose for him to do everything he wants to do.  I choose Jesus plus nothing … this is the only thing that counts.

P - Lord,

Today the only choice that counts is you plus nothing. Jesus, I don't want to add you to anything or receive just "a little bit of heaven" to slightly improve my fallen and warped condition.  I need and want all of you to transform all of me into the child, friend and servant you've dreamt, died and rose from the dead for me to be.  This is the only thing that counts because you are the only one who counts. My answer is yes. Do everything you want and let your life come into and flow out of me.  I choose the rule of Jesus plus nothing. You really are something to brag about!

All my love,

Steve