here i am, playing hookey from church. it's not because i slept late (thank God for that extra hour of sleep. i totally needed it after my dog barked all night long). it's not because i don't want to be at my chuch, though i love it and its people dearly. i am simply playing hookey because we planned it this way. i wanted to have a leisurely breakfast with my gals, wash my car, and have my own worship time this morning. and so i did. and now here i sit, writing about my time with my God.
this morning, i got back to the basics. while listening to a worship song, the gratefulness, amazement, and humility from a Savior dying on a cross hit me like a ton of bricks. it is so easy to be casual about this, because it is so basic. God loves world, sends Son to die on cross, Son rises again, and grace is extended for all who accepts it and chooses to believe. it's the basic of the basics. it's where a sinner's debt is paid, it's the beginning of a life of salvation, it's where a relationship with your Creator all begins. and yet, without this solid foundation, there is no hope. this morning, as i sang and worshipped, the thought that i deserve hell without His grace became very real. the thought that if He had not come to die for our sins, even my sweet children would be doomed for hell. there would only be loss, every death and funeral would offer terrible suffering as the survivors could only wonder what happened to their loved ones in the "after life." maybe not. maybe we would just walk around and believe that we are not eternal beings and that after death, that is it. what a terribly purpose-less life we would all lead if we had no hope.
so while i'm always thankful for His grace, His mercy..this morning brought a new awakening in my soul to encourage you, that He is merciful, that He gives His grace freely, that His Son came and died for you.
i had a wonderful image in my head this morning while thinking about His grace, while pondering on our Messiah's death and resurrection. whether it was my wild imagination or the Spirit's leading that conjured up this picture in my head, i don't know, but i do know it was perfect for me. i thought of my girls at our kitchen table, eating a meal. they know if their food falls, or if they spill their drink, momma is going to be there to get out her clorox anywhere spray and clean up the mess. but what my kids don't do is purposefully make a mess, dump their water on the floor, or rub their food all over the table just because they know momma has the power and the tools to clean up their messes. now, if we screw up and sin, His grace is always there to "clean up our mess," but we should never take for granted His mercy and forgiveness so much, that we purposely make the mess and expect Him to forgive us. i know i'm so guilty of doing this...thinking "i know this is wrong, but i'm going to do it anyway and rely on His grace..." ...i don't want to be like that, though! i don't want to make a mess on purpose and then expect my Savior to get out the "clorox anywhere spray" and clean up my filth! i pray that He purifies me to be holy as He is holy.
this is what our God is crying out for us to do, to walk in His truth and abide by His word..the Bible says He gives us His "laws, rules, instructions" for our GOOD!!!! oh if only we understand the basics...the 10 commandments, His forgiveness, the wonders of His mercy...let's get back to the basics!!!! let's stop pretending to be more spiritually mature than we are by being prideful and turning up our nose to the "simplicity" of His love. without His love, we'd be doomed for an eternity seperated from Him in the darkest place!!!!
i leave you with a chorus from the song i listened to this morning...may it minister to your heart the way it did mine:
"Your grace is amazing to me,
and Your love is still such a wonder,
and Your cross is still bringing me to my knees, oh God,
You still amaze me....."
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