God Has Given You An A+ By Pete BriscoeSampel

Live like you have an A+

People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer. I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer, and with that, you live all your life.—Martha Graham 

Back in the day, the church at Corinth was an absolute mess. Sure, they were a holy mess because they were saints in Christ, but their behavior was pathetic. Paul could have started his letter to them like this: “Hey, what’s wrong with you people? You’re a bunch of idol-loving, sex-crazed, unfaithful, egotistical, self-centered, greedy babies! Stop that! Get your act together!” But do you know what? Paul never starts his letters like that. He always starts by telling them who they are in Christ first. 

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours... I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 4) 

This is the pattern throughout the New Testament, and it’s a powerful pattern that sets us free to live as God created us to live. First we realize the truth about who we are in Christ, then comes the “expression” part. “Marching” focuses on the commands without even thinking about who we are in Christ. “Dancing” begins when we rest in what He has done and who we are because of it. 

Listen, when someone realizes they really are an A+ student because of Christ, they will start to live like it. That’s totally backwards from the way it works in the world... but then again, isn’t almost everything Christ did?! 

My Heavenly Father, I am a mess too, just like the Corinthians. I thank You from the bottom of my heart for the grace You have given me in Christ Jesus, that I’ve been set apart. I thank You that I am called to be holy, chosen by You to be Your child. Amen.