I met with a Christian leader this week and while we were talking he was moved to tears. He was moved with hope and encouraged to hear what God was doing in the lives of some people he loves. He referred people for counseling and he knows some of these people have been to numerous counselors in the past.
One of the individuals he referred was a big man and he mentioned that he remembered a time when he put his hand on the man’s chest to pray for him. Just the memory of that was precious. The hand on the chest symbolized his touch, God’s touch, prayer, compassion and of course love.
Our discussion turned to the topic of living in the moment. We were both so blessed that “in the moment” that we were sharing together, we could have complete rest and completeness in God’s perfect acceptance of us.
We have the complete rest and assurance of God’s perfect acceptance
The friend he referred for counseling was now learning to live out of this precious truth. The three of us together are contributing to this post. My friend told the story about praying with the hand on the chest, I shared the blessing of living in the moment and the counselee was the focus of our discussion.
I became moved with a picture of the hand on the chest. I pictured the gentle, humble, consoling, comforting and assuring hand of Jesus on the chest of our friend. I began to imagine how the hand never leaves. I got out of my chair and started walking around the coffee shop with my hand on my chest. As crazy as I was acting in that moment, it only served to illustrate the blessing of the constant presence of Christ’s life.
Put your hand on your chest and imagine Christ’s presence. While you are walking He is there. His comfort and presence never leaves. This is when my friend was moved to tears and he said “I think this is your next post.” This post is our memory of that moment. We were both blessed that the young man was learning Christ in this way. So how have you learned Christ?
“You did not learn Christ in this way”. Ephesians 4:20
Some people have learned Christ in wrong ways. Some have been taught to believe and live in a way to gain His acceptance. Some have been taught to follow Him. Some believe that Jesus is a good model. Jesus is a good model but He does not want to be your model. He wants to be your life.
Just like placing your hand on your chest as you say a pledge of allegiance, you might think that the Christian life consists of making a pledge to God to be loyal and faithful. With all diligence you might commit to be strong when others prove to be weak. If I recall, the apostle Peter tried this and he did not follow through. He seemed to be the most determined of all the disciples. He was willing to take risks when the others hesitated. He was voted most likely to succeed. He would be the one most likely to wear the purple heart on his chest.
The Christian Life is not about your pledge to Christ but His pledge to you.
Peter needed the hand of Jesus on his chest and so do we. Jesus was forsaken and took the rejection that Peter could not take. He has kept His promise to be in us, never forsake us and that He is the one who will be faithful. By going to the cross he fulfilled the pledge. His hand is now on your chest.
This week I received the testimony of a friend who has learned to live out of Christ’s acceptance and life. She is living with the assurance of the hand on the chest. Christ has made a pledge to her. He has promised to never leave her nor forsake her. She has acceptance, she is acceptable and not rejectable.
By embracing Christ’s Life and acceptance she is now willing and able to accept rejection from others. She realizes many others do not have this security and confidence and therefore she is prepared to even receive rejection because she realizes many others cannot. She has learned Christ this way. There are other things to learn. Some we will learn over time and some things we will never learn; but learning this will help bring liberty and justice to all.
What Jesus has done for us, what He has fulfilled and what He continues to do is like a hand on my chest. This moves me and brings rest to my soul.
Place your hand on your chest and receive this pledge Christ has for you: Jesus said, “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me. For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28,29
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