“The wise builder kneels at the cross for grace because it is the unbreakable rock you can stand back up on. Coming to Jesus means you can build a life stronger and better than any you could create on your own. . . . Kneeling also happens to put you in the perfect position to hear the grace of Jesus.”- Alli Patterson (emphasis author’s)
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder.”- 1 Corinthians 3:10 (NIV)
Alli Patterson concludes Chapter 4 of How to Stay Standing with the second and third aspects of what it means to come to Jesus.
2. To come is to give up your power. Kneeling always signifies giving up power. Therefore, when we come to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge this truth. That we cannot live life on our own power.
However, Alli notes, sometimes we wrestle with the question of whether God’s going to use His power for our good. As a result, the author states, we think: I’ll keep what I’ve got, thank you very much. But Jesus displayed a very different picture of power. He used it to speak life, heal sickness, and set people free.
3. To come is to meet at the cross. Here, Alli defines the cross as the place where you:
- access the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18)
- achieve reconciliation between you and God and you and others (Ephesians 2:16)
- make peace with God (Colossians 1:20)
- access the place of victory over any other power or authority in your life (Colossians 2:15)
- receive radical freedom and grace (Galatians 5:11)
In conclusion, Alli exhorts:
“You’re going to have to choose over and over again whether to kneel down. Will it be his plan or yours? His power or yours? His life or yours? . . . In the kingdom of God the end is always just the beginning. Jesus can turn anything that was supposed to be against you and use it as the very mechanism of your blessing!”
Finally, one thief on the cross next to Jesus asked Jesus to remember him. He bowed down at the cross. Because he recognized the cross as the amazing power and plan of God to bring new life.
Today’s question: How do you rely on grace as the unbreakable rock? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Hear second – the hinge”
