Accepted

"If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.

Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own."
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (The Message)

Paul is the writer of this book. I love the opening line--"If I acted crazy, I did it for God"--have you ever experienced a giddiness in your walk with the Lord? Like there are times when you are experiencing Him and all of a sudden, you feel this uncontrollable laughter inside of you, bursting to get out? Well, you may feel like you're acting a little silly. If someone was near you, watching you, they may think that you're being a little crazy. You can be crazy in the spirit and be OK. Do you know what it is called? It's called having the joy of the Lord spilling out all over you and anyone near you. Isn't that glorious?!

Then on the other hand, if you have someone in your life (and this could include yourself), that is on the verge of making the wrong decision, going down the wrong path, you can, and maybe should, get real serious, real fast. It's a matter of life and death. It's not a laughing matter. There's a life to save and there's no time for fun and games.

Having Christ in your life and living a Christful life, can and at times, will--give you both extremes. Full of, what they use to call, schoolgirl giddiness to the opposite extreme, seriousness that is nobody's business.

Jesus died for EVERYONE. Not just for the highly educated. Not for the beautiful people. Not for the wealthy. Not for anyone who has anything or who is anybody. Jesus died for us ALL. It doesn't matter to Him if you have been perfect since the day you were conceived or as bad as the day is long. Jesus sees us all the same.

I love how Paul puts it--"One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat." Do you noticed that? Have you noticed that when a catastrophe happens--on the norm--it doesn't matter who you are, where on the social ladder you happen to be, what ethnic background you have--the drama is happening to all of us and we tend to try to help each other out? At that moment, we are all equal. We are all on the same playing field, sharing the same rules.

To Jesus, we are all His very special children. To Him, you, yes you, are His and His only. When you are praying to Him, the other millions of people that He has created, fade into the background and for that very special time that you and Him are talking and sharing, that intimate time that is just between you and Him--is just that. Intimate-just between you and Him.

Please, don't get me wrong. He loves us all the same, yet at the same time, He can love us individually in a special way that is an unique relationship that only you and Him have. That is one reason your prayer life is SO very important. You need to have a healthy prayer life with Him to have a healthy Christ-center relationship with Him. Do you understand that?

Still think that you don't matter? That a prayful (communicating) life with your Father isn't important? Think again. I think you know better!