Having a child throw a tantrum in a restaurant is every father or mother’s worst nightmare. People stare, they wonder out loud about your parenting ability. We blush and sweat and rack our brains about what to do, because right then our kid is just making us crazy! But did you ever stop to think that there are days when we act just like that with God. We misbehave, talk back, complain and fuss and sometimes even complain at the top of our lungs to anyone who will listen. But just as any parent who truly loves their child, God doesn’t abandon us in the restaurant. Instead in those moments when we are at our worst, though God will correct us, He still claims us as His own. Now that kind of love and grace is something that makes me say, “He has made me glad, yes He has made me glad!” I hope you enjoy my memorable story and join in us singing this joyful chorus by Leona Bruce Von Brethorst. No matter what we face, what failures we are in the middle of or how far we feel from God, we can still turn back and “Enter His gates, with thanksgiving in our hearts,” because by grace God still claims us as His child!
God’s grace
Every Day’s a Gift
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 1 Corinthians 1:26 ESV
This morning, I took a friend down for an appointment with her neurologist, because lately she has gotten lost on the way. Since the visit stretched on for an hour and a half, it gave me plenty of time to read, and to observe the many patients streaming in and out of the office. At one point my knees were getting stiff, so I went to the door and as I began to step outside, I noticed a man coming up the walk, trailed by an older gentleman, who I took to be his father. Since I was in the doorway anyway, I held it open, for them, and they both smiled and thanked me, but the older man also apologetically said, “Sorry, but I’m a little slow.” Once they entered, the receptionist had forms for them to fill out and the younger one, pulled out a bag full of prescription bottles and proceeded to make sure they were the same as those already printed out on the form. Then, apparently that being the only purpose of their visit, after they finished the paperwork, and answered a few questions, they turned and headed towards the door. Again, the older man trailed far behind, shuffling a bit with his feet. “Have a good day,” I said as they passed.
Not expecting anything else to be said, I turned back to reading the day’s news on my phone, but as the older man reached for the door, he turned, flashed a smile towards me and said,
Remember, every day’s a gift!”.
As they headed home, I realized that, while most of us had seen this man with sympathy, but few could see how aware he was of his position in life. Once he could have sprinted up the walk, flung open the door and been the one helping others to their seats. But now, hobbled by years, and a body that no longer cooperated with him he bravely was entering a new and challenging chapter in life. But in his weakness, he had recognized grace and saw that grace could help in his weakest state. He had come to recognize that God was over it all, and as firmly in control as He has ever been. He had seen that, life is a gift, and in fact, all that God had done was a gift, from creation to the Cross. God planted the garden, then gave it to man. God created Eve and presented her to Adam. God even feeds the birds he created and gave them songs to cheer us. He sent His only Son, then gave His most precious gift of all, the blood of Jesus Christ for our sins. And right now, God offers a much overlooked and amazing gift. God’s gift is for Muslims and Hindus, for pastors and paper boys, for children and especially for one man who can only shuffle up the walkway to his doctor’s office. He has found that while he can no longer work, play baseball, or even drive his own car, he can be grateful and give a smile to me and say, “Remember, every day’s a gift!”
Good Friday – The Kindness of Calvary
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots. Luke 23:34 KJV
During the six long hours of the suffering of Jesus, He hung from nails driven through His hands and feet, and blood streamed down His face from the thorns that pierced His scalp. No one could have expected Him to do more than simply endure: But He did. Jesus was busy with an amazing number of things, and busy, not because He hoped to gain anything, but because His kindness and compassion was stirred up for those around Him. We can’t be sure of their exact order, but during those hours, Jesus promised the repentant thief, dying next to Him a place in paradise, He made sure that Mary would be cared for by His disciple John. In His agony, Jesus showed the world the love of God, so much so that as He died, one of the soldiers who had crucified Him, began to believe and confessed that He was the Son of God.
But of all the things Jesus did, none showed His kindness more than His final prayer “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!” Though prayed when He was at HIs weakest, that prayer is still being powerfully answered today. And today, on this Good Friday, If the sight of children starving in war-torn villages while evil dictators plan their next attack angers you, remember that in God’s kindness, lies an even greater power than guns and bombs. There is a stronger force than fear and hatred. And on that afternoon, when Jesus breathed His last, friend and foe alike thought that He was finished. And they were right! Jesus was finished paying the penalty for you and I – finished with taking away the sins of the world – finished with His Father’s mission for Him on earth but just beginning by kindness and love to change the course of history, one lost sinner at a time!
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