Gracious H2O

It has been raining non-stop for the whole week. Us Californians are not accustomed to this kind of weather and it has become the topic of many conversations. Sometimes it moves from small talk to complaining.

I find it gracious of God that He would pour just water out on us.

"Upon the wicked He will rain coals of fire; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup." Psalm 11: 6

He could rain down fire, coals of fire, burning winds and He would be utterly and completely righteous. We are a wicked world. None of us deserves life. He is far more gracious than we can ever imagine.

Realignment

In the past year, there are two significant moments that I can gratefully say humbled me and rearranged my perspective.

1. I was in the car listening to a sermon by CJ Mahaney and he said to imagine yourself at the scene of Jesus' crucifixion. He questioned, "Who are you in this scene? The women at the foot of the cross? Peter? John? Pilate? Roman guards? The crowd?"

I remember thinking to myself, "I would probably be at the foot of the cross with the women weeping and looking back at the crowd saying, 'How could you do this?' "

His response shocked me.

You are deceived if you don't see yourself in the crowd yelling, "Crucify Him!"

I was deceived.

2. A quote from the book The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges:

"There is no sin which I am not capable of committing."

Why do I so often feel invincible? Or when I see or hear about grievous, terrible, soul-destructing sins (which they all are, right?) I say to myself, "I'll never do that."

This brings me to my knees. I am capable of committing every sin. Sobering. Humiliating. Reality. I need Christ to keep me on a short leash.

Why is it that what is given as a "grace" and a "blessing" can quickly turn into a "temptation" or a "trial"?

Isn't it so true? Those moments where God in His kindness grants us a blessing we can so quickly turn it into a curse.

It reminds me of enzymes. An enzyme has an active site on its surface which binds to substrate. When the binding happens, the enzyme changes shape and function. In comparison, it is like the graces that God gives to us are like enzymes. The moment they come in contact with our depravity and sin they change shape and function. Now they serve a different purpose as trials, adversity or temptations.

I see how it can happen in all realms and categories.

Money received can be a blessing. But before we know it our hearts are wrapped around it and we love it. It now rules and wreaks havoc on our souls.

Water is good and necessary for the earth, but it can also become a tornado, flood, or tsunami.

The Israelites were given freedom from the Egyptians and then began to grumble and complain even asking to return to their slavery in Egypt.

Yes, I believe that God is sovereign and if he wants to flood the earth, he will. But there is in a very real sense a part that we play. What part of our depravity causes those "graces" to become "curses"?

The moment that we forget that God has given it to us, that we are recipients of his benevolent mercy, is the moment we take ownership. We think it's ours. We own it, we make the rules about it.

We own nothing! God made us, the air we breathe, the personalities we have, our strengths and weaknesses, the earth we live in, the food we eat, the gifts we receive....

Because He made it all, He owns all. He rules over all. He can do whatever He pleases. Our bodies, our lives, our gifts, even the "graces" He gives to us are not our own.

My forgetfulness is astonishing. No wonder throughout Scripture it constantly says "declare", "speak" "sing a new song" about the works of the Lord. If we aren't constantly saying them to ourselves and others, we will forget. It's not that we MIGHT forget. We just WILL.

In those moments of forgetfulness, that grace can turn into a temptation to treasure the gift, the "grace" above Christ. But those moments of temptation also offer an opportunity to treasure Christ above all.

Lord, keep me far from temptation.