Who is at the centre?

We were standing with our arms lifted in praise, singing from our deepest hearts. In a previous post Jann mentioned that we were gifted a weekend away to Knysna (and what a restorative weekend it was!). While there we decided to visit Knysna Vineyard Church. We heard that they were a Grace based church, and indeed, above the stage were large letters spelling G R A C E. We felt at home.

What moved me so deeply was a song called, “Jesus at the centre”, especially the anthemic chorus, “From my heart to the heavens, Jesus at the centre, it’s all about you, yes, it’s all about you” (which you can hear in the video below).

We have both been Christians since our teens. Our journey has taken us from a law-based understanding of Christianity (do good, get rewarded – do bad, get punished), to having a revelation of God’s grace (His unmerited, unconditional favour and the gift of righteousness through Christ), through ‘mixture ‘ (Grace mixed with the law – saved by Grace but with the focus still on what we have to do to stay ‘right’ with God, not on what He has already done through the cross). Jesus has become the centre of our faith.

This is why singing “Jesus at the centre” touched me so deeply, putting into words something we both feel at a deep heart level. Singing those words was a joyous declaration of who is at our centre.

Under the law, the High Priest (who represented the Jewish people before God) never sat down – in fact there were no chairs in the sanctuary. The reason is that his job was never done, offering animal sacrifices over and over to cover the sins of the people. On the cross, Jesus (who is our High Priest) proclaimed “It is finished”, and then died. Scripture declares that “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice (himself) for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrew 10:12 ESV). The high priest sat down – His work is done! This is why Jesus is at the centre of it all, and why we have made him the centre of our lives, and this good news of His grace is what we share in Grace is Home.

Dear God

Thank you that you receive all that call upon the name of Jesus. Thank you that there is no one beyond the reach of your unconditional love. Thank you that you receive us just as we are and, in your Grace, you raise us to newness of life. Thank you Jesus for being at the centre of it all!

Amen

Who or what is at your centre?

Who is Jesus to you?

We share this as our own personal confession of faith, but respect that you may have a different perspective. All are welcome at Grace is Home.