SNOW LIKE GRACE!

 

Saturday, October 31, 2020

 

SNOW LIKE GRACE!

 

Job 38:22-23

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

 

Ps 51:7

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

           Of all the wonders of God, I think snow is most wonderous. According to an article from the Library of Congress, “The scientific consensus states that the likelihood of two large snow crystals being identical is zero.” The only similarity between one flake and another is that both star shaped flakes have six points. Moreover, God-made snow has a complex crystalline structure whereas snow from snow machines is simply frozen fragments. Only God owns the “treasures of the snow!”

 

           Snow covers all ugliness! In that respect, it is like grace. As the snow begins to cover, we can still see patterns and shapes of the ugliness that is underneath, but when it is piled high, even the shapes of the past are hidden. Wonderous beauty is the result. Peter urged us to “grow in grace.” (2 Peter 3:18)

 

           I am so unlike God! I see ugliness and want to destroy it. God wants to cover it and make it beautiful. I see wrong and want to punish it without mercy. God gently and gradually makes it a wonder to behold. The grace that covers me I want to withhold from others like me. I am not like God, except in wrath. I would be more gracious but most often I am not.

 

           Wrong deserves to be punished, and will be, but for those who sit still and yield to God’s gracious working, their wrong, flake-by-mysterious flake, can be covered. Peter, once again, gives us good counsel in 1 Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

 

Dear God of Grace restrain the wrath in me and cover me. AMEN

NOT EXPEDIENT!

 

Friday, October 30, 2020

 

NOT EXPEDIENT!

 

1 Cor 10:23

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 

           In all seven occurrences of the word “expedient” in the New Testament it is translated from the Greek word sumphero which, curiously, means “to collect together.” Think of it this way. Of all the things on the table that you might collect together, which is better?

 

           In John 11:50, Caiaphas declared, regarding Jesus, that it was expedient (the best of all things on the table) that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not. He probably had no idea how right he was!

 

           Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was expedient or better for him to go away [die and return to heaven] so that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, could be given to us. While He was “in the flesh” he was local but in the form of the Spirit He could indwell and be with every believer. We must agree that is better.

 

           Paul said in 2 Cor. 8:10 that it is expedient or better to gather together the offering to send to the poor saints in Jerusalem. Systematic giving always garners more than casual or haphazard giving that is emotionally driven. Yes, that is better.

 

           In 1 Cor 6:12 and 10:23 Paul says that grace has made most things “lawful”, but all things are not expedient. Essentially, he is saying that just because you CAN does not mean that you SHOULD. Of all the lawful things on the table expediency gathers together what is best and chooses that one thing.

 

           Of all the choices presented to us today we must gather together those opportunities and choose what is better. Happy sorting!

 

Dear Lord, please filter – even limit – my choices today to your choice. AMEN

AS WE ARE KNOWN!

Thursday, October 29, 2020

 

AS WE ARE KNOWN!

 

1 Cor 13:12

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

           Last week I had the privilege of reconnecting with friends from more than 30 years ago. It was a delightful but sobering experience. A painting hangs on my home-office wall painted by a wonderfully talented lady who can’t remember painting it. Another couple said: “You don’t recognize us, do you?” Sadly, I didn’t at first.

 

           Will we know each other in Heaven? Paul thinks so. Will we be fresh and new as we were when we were young? It is not clear. The years color our hair and bend our backs but I think there will be a grand reunion.

 

1 John 3:2

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

Dear Lord, I look forward to that grand reunion when I shall be like you. Amen