Lisa Notes: Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Mr. Clyde said it in class yesterday morning:
Jesus started a new race of people.
A people meant to be perfect. It’s what the Word says (Matthew 5:48).

I look around me.
These are the perfect people?

I see James. Somebody brings him each Sunday from his shelter because James wants to be here. You can tell James is homeless just by looking at his outside.

I see guys with more tattooed skin than clear. Women with kids but no rings. Old men who can’t hear well. Dwaine who has fallen fast asleep.

And let’s not forget those who at first glance may appear mainstream but are weird in our own ways once you get to know us.

Perfect?
It’s not what I see when I look at us.

But Who lives inside us is perfect.
Jesus Christ.
Deity. (2 Corinthians 13:5; John 14:20; 1 John 3:24; Colossians 1:27)

Oh my.

Mr. Clyde then says, “We live out of who we think we are.”

Who do you think you are?
The one you see on your outside?
Or the One who lives in you on your inside?

I take one more look around the room.
Dwaine is wide awake now. James is paying close attention. Clyde is pressing in with what we need to put off and what we need to put on (Colossians 3:8-10).

Are my eyes deceiving me, or is our messiness already fading?

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
2 Corinthians 3:18

~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~

Keeping up the grace count to 1000, # 436-444

~ Bible class teachers who never retire
~ homeless men who find home in Jesus
~ messy people on the outside made clean on the inside
~ inspiring movies—“Courageous”
~ extended-family meals
~ getting to hold both Lillie and Lily in the same day
~ young girls who pray with maturity
~ baseball
~ a God who looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)

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Comments (22)

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Adoption Mama · 706 weeks ago

Dwelling on this thought all weekend. Just a wonderful confirmation. Blessings.
My recent post Fun at Wycliffe Bible Translators

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

I love when God confirms valuable truths to us. I can never hear too often that it is in Christ we are made whole. Praying you have a blessed week.

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barbarah 65p · 706 weeks ago

And even those of us who look clean and neat on the outside are filled with "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6) and " wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores" (Isa. 1:6) -- the Bible is so uncomfortably descriptive some times! So thankful He loved us "while we were yet sinners."
My recent post The Week In Words

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Great verses to add here, Barbara. Thanks. The “filthy rags” imagery always gets me. Every time. We discussed “goodness” last night in my small group on the fruit of the Spirit. God alone is good; any good we do is just overflow from Him.

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Old Ollie · 706 weeks ago

I like your grace count...not always my approach.

1 reply · active 706 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Ann Voskamp @ A Holy Experience inspires many of us to keep pursuing a grace count. It reminds me to look up and around and be grateful. I need reminding.

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Nancy · 706 weeks ago

A new race of people, ones who are deeply, deeply loved.
My recent post Well Pleased With the Beloved

1 reply · active 706 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Deeply, deeply loved. Yes! And deeply, deeply filled. No matter how many years I know it's true, I still find it hard to grasp that the Lord can make his home in us. And can love us still. Miracle of miracles.

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Laura · 706 weeks ago

I am such a mess. We are, aren't we? Oh , thank God for his grace!

Thank you for sharing this picture of your class, Lisa. It sounds like a special place.
My recent post Playdates: This Moment

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

The class is special, full of messy people. I fit right in.

Yes, that grace--it cleans us up and clothes us in His righteousness. John Newton had it right: "Amazing" is an apt word for it, for Him.

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Julie · 706 weeks ago

LOVE it...Whenever I hear the word "misfits"...my mind always goes to the misfits in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the island of misfit toys that they went and rescued! those cast away, broken, unwanted...and I love the word picture...yes inside...with Jesus and His work, we are all fit for the Kingdom...thanks for writing Lisa. Inspires!!
My recent post M is for Monday....Merry....and Marine Mom!

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Oh, Julie. Your analogies are also making me think of Toy Story 3 when the toys no longer felt useful (such a sad but good movie). I know I’ve felt that way at times myself. But so thankful that we have God’s Word that tells us differently. He gives us abundant life and purpose that goes on and on!

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Michelle DeRusha · 706 weeks ago

I just love this, Lisa. You nailed it: perfect messiness, grace in all.

And your post reminded me of what I read over at Nancy's place this morning, too (Out of my Alleged Mind).
My recent post Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: See and Act

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

I did read Nancy’s post this morning and noticed that same connection! I love when that happens. :-)

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floyd · 706 weeks ago

Great point. It doesn't really matter how together we look on the outside, it is only God himself that makes us any thing other than damned. I appreciate your honesty, what an amazing class. A blessing from God.
My recent post A SLEEPLESS NIGHT

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

And isn’t it crazy that sometimes we get frustrated that WE aren’t allowed to work out some of our own salvation, being the independent self-centered creatures that we are? Instead we should always be grateful that it is—as you put it—“only God himself that makes us anything other than damned.” Excellent.

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e-Mom · 706 weeks ago

Great post! In my THEO classes, my profs talked about the concept of "Already, but not yet." IOW, we are already perfect through Christ, but not yet perfect like Christ. Like Paul, I long for that day when we will be made immortal and perfected in holiness. "We shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (I Corinthians 15:51-52)

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

That sums it up well: “already, but not yet.” I think that’s clear throughout the New Testament that we’ve already been saved in Christ—we already have the abundant life—yet there’s still more to come. What a great position we find ourselves in.

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nacoleat6inthesticks 21p · 706 weeks ago

Lisa,

just stopping by from Ann's and seedling in stone. saw your post there. this is a great reminder that we are all the same. Jesus sees us the same, no matter if we are homeless, if we dress proper or talk proper or not, we are all the same, all sinners saved by grace. this was good.

Blessings in His grace,

Nacole

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

Nacole,
Oh, to have the eyes of Jesus. It would stop me dead in my tracks every day to see how he sees. I wonder how much my priorities would change; how much the order of my day would change....

Yes, we're all the same, all in need of his blessed grace. Every day. Glad you stopped by.
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Lisa · 706 weeks ago

This is so good! We live out of who we think we are. "Who do you think you are? The one you see on your outside? Or the One who lives in you on your inside?" I want to live with confidence in the One who live in me. Love this ~ many blessings!

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Lisa notes 103p · 706 weeks ago

“Live with confidence in the One who lives in me” – nicely put.

It reminds me of a passage I read this morning in “Spiritual Depression” on Phil 4:13:

“What Paul is saying here is that Christ infuses so much strength and power into him that he is strong and able for all things. He is not left to himself, he is not struggling alone and vainly against these mighty odds. It is a great power from Christ Himself which is entering, and has entered, into his life, and it is there as a dynamo, as an energy and strength. ‘In this,’ says Paul, ‘I am able for anything.’”

That is confidence, and it’s available to each of us.