You Are Both: In Christ and In...

I wonder if too often Christianity (life in Christ) is experienced in a bubble?

This is not to say everything has to be action, task, or project driven. But I wonder if the beautiful life - abundant life - that Jesus promises, is often only slightly experienced, because it's never in contrast to much else.

Christianity has a tendency to create sub cultures that make it easy to separate oneself from the culture around them. (christian music, books, conferences, groups, work places, etc.)
 
It's striking to me how the apostle Paul addresses Christ followers in his letters. His introductions say a lot.

Ephesians is no exception:

to God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1)

Who Am I?
Where Am I?

Don't we all ask these questions at some point?

YOU ARE... in Christ.
YOU ARE... in Ephesus.

You are in Christ - shaped in him, empowered in him, given life in him, experience grace in him - living in _______________ (insert city here).

The life your faith in Christ creates is never experienced in a bubble or separate space. It's in the life you live now, in the place you live now.

A Christian's "holy people" identity (set apartness) is a reality because you are in a particular place and your new life is erupting in that context.

Who you are and where you are are both important. For who you are is only experienced and expressed where you are.

You will truly know the life Jesus creates in you in the context of your place (finances, circumstances, struggles, opportunities, relationships, neighborhood, workplace)

How do you answer the questions: Who Am I? Where Am I?

Consider that who you are IN CHRIST is experienced and expressed where you are [insert your place/city/network here].

Ephesians goes on to describe how EVERYTHING IS NEW when Jesus is discovered and followed. That newness doesn't wait for the other side eternity to start. It starts now.

May you experience the joy and life of Jesus that is yours in him IN YOUR PLACE - in the middle of your day, while you create and produce and relate and rest.

What's your place? Your city?
Do you struggle to experience new life there?
Are there things about your place that suppress the new life in you?
Are there things that highlight the new life? That affirm that new life?
Do you recognize opportunities for your new life to shine through you, in your city?

*this post is based on a message from Westside Gathering, in a teaching series called everything NEW