Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you
were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which
doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You
filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.
We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt
like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose
his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.
Instead,
immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took
our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his
own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in
highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved
Each day before Nathan naps, I
read to him. One of his recent favorites is a pop-up book that tells
the story of the three little pigs. We all know that story…the mother
pig sends her three little pigs out into the world, and the first pig
gets in a big hurry and builds a straw house, which the wolf promptly
blows over. Pig #2 builds his house out of sticks, and the wolf blows
it over, as well. Pig #3 has a little more sense, and he builds a brick
house. It takes longer and requires more effort…but in the end, all
three pigs live there safely…and the old wolf is sent packing for good.
There
are some interesting parallels for us in this children’s story. The
mother pig wants what is best for her children, just as God wants what
is best for us. She sends them out into the world…each one a “clean
slate” so to speak…just as we are cleansed of our sins, sent out and
commissioned by Jesus to share His message with the world. Some of us
get in a hurry and take the path of least resistance, while others just
plain do things like they want. The end result is never pretty for any
of those who choose to “pollute their lungs with unbelief and exhale
disobedience.”
Some, like the third little pig, work slowly and
steadily…keeping their focus on the end result. Not only that, they
share their blessings with others…have an “open-door policy” for even
those who disobey and cut corners. They operate in grace, mercy and
forgiveness - and in the wisdom of the LORD - at all times and in all
things.
The end result is that the wolf (a.k.a. the devil!)
doesn’t stand a chance! Those who serve with love and obedience are
rewarded for their faithfulness…and the ones who receive grace and mercy
are shown the face of Christ in these words and actions.
I agree
with the Apostle Paul…I am astounded that God doesn’t just throw up His
hands and wipe the earth clean of each and every one of us. He could
probably start over more easily than He could deal with some of the
messes we make. God could create a new people who would love more
deeply and serve more earnestly…who would treat others with more
kindness and compassion and encourage them to love Jesus and serve Him
wholeheartedly.
But God didn’t do this. For some unknown reason, He chose us…and
He really, REALLY wants us to choose Him in return. I have to tell
you, I am incredibly moved that ANYONE would do that for me…so moved
that I want more than anything to give back to Him in return…to be the
hands and feet of Jesus on this earth for as many people as I can - and
to serve Him in everything I say and do. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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