Yesterday Dave and I went walking and we were talking about God's goodness. I wrote a while back about how the IRS had audited our 2007 taxes and said we owed them an extra $14,000. Dave about fell apart and I was adamant that God was going to come through and we were not going to have to pay that. We asked God for mercy not to have to pay the penalty and a fair price. (I actually asked that we wouldn't have to pay any of it). Well after investigation the verdict came in yesterday. We will have to pay $436!!! That is like nothing compared to 14K. I made the statement to Dave that I love the fact that I have no fear for the future. He said he was not there yet, I guess because he is the breadwinner and it is on his shoulders to provide.....but not really. Didn't God tell the children of Israel that he would give them cities that they didn't build, houses richly stocked with goods they didn't produce, water from cisterns they didn't dig, and food from plants they didn't plant? From the very beginning of time God has been trying to teach his children about grace - unmerited favor. We do not have to work for it. All God required of the children of Israel is that they didn't forget the God who had rescued them and to fear and serve him. He asked them to take an oath to use only his name. (Duet 6:10-13)
Since we live in a democracy with a president we don't really understand the concept of having a king who provides for us. Thank God we don't have a king because most kings turn to dictators and we have seen what they do. God is the only wise and trusting king and spiritually we do live in his kingdom. Our king does care for our every need and loves us individually. We are his children which means everything in the kingdom is ours for the asking. Our problem is we see ourselves through our condemning eyes and we don't ask out of shame. That is where the sacrifices in the Old Testament fell short. They could take away the sin, but not the shame. Jesus took both our sin and our shame and nailed it to the cross. Paul reminds us: "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." If we really let this sink into our spirits we would be free to ask for more. Jesus said, "ask and you shall receive.... good measure pressed down and shaken together."
What has God put in your heart to want? What is your dream? Ask for it. Lord, make us people that can be trusted to receive the riches of the kingdom.
1 comment:
Thank you so much for this word today. I needed it. What an awesome reminder that God is big enough to handle any of our wants and dreams.
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