It's not fair! Those three words, spoken in that order did not fly in my house. And after a time, they no longer warranted the easy response... Life's not fair! For what in this world is? So my children simply learned not to say it. Because as they grew up, their life was pretty easy... compared to many others. They had a great life and no reason to complain about unfairness. But what they lacked was perspective. That's truly what you gain as you grow older. Well at least, I hope we all do. And I think it's actually a great gift that God gives when He allows us to become parents. This new viewpoint of how God might possibly see us as children from His Father's eye. I mean, I've seen a toddler throw a tantrum on the floor about the most ridiculous nothing. You probably have too. And there have been times as I've stood over said toddler, that God has nudged me and whispered, See that... it looks a little like how you behaved when I didn't let you have your way. And I remember my heart kicking and screaming over something now past that He handled better than I could. But what also helps us gain a better perspective on life is actually reading the Bible. Because it is a historical account of the lives of many who lived before. Many who got it right with God, and many who did not. And when reading as a parent, it's humbling to see what a great Father God has been to His people... to us. For He has truly pursued us throughout the ages. Even like the parent now, who has a wayward teen or young adult child. We don't stop loving them because they have chosen a difficult path in life. In fact, our heart aches and breaks over the life choices they are making. Yet we know that if we rescue them, or even TRY to give them advice they will only pull further away. Enter God into the Old Testament with the Israelites! Have you read any of it... a lot of times, we jump into and out of the Old Testament, reading only here or there. But if we are not reading the whole story... chronologically, as it really unfolded, it can cause us to accuse God of being hard and harsh, even angry and mean. But if we will read it from the beginning... it's easier to see that the character of God is truly not any of those things. And then we could gain perspective to see that the Israelites became like our wayward teen, our young adult child. But they were called... the children of God. And He didn't stop loving them because they chose a difficult path in life. In fact, His heart ached and broke over the life choices they made. Yet He knew that if He rescued them or even TRIED to give them advice they would only pull further away from Him. Listen to what He even says to one of His prophets, Ezekiel... “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’ As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? Ezekiel 33:10-11 NLT God didn't take pleasure in sentencing them to death over their sin. Like we, as parents, really don't take pleasure in punishing our children when they disobey. I know I don't! Especially when I have to take away something I gave them which I know brought them joy. And that's exactly when we can hear that dreaded phrase... It's not fair! Whether said or unsaid, it hangs there. And then there will be such tension in our relationship for days. Those strained conversations. Those really tense moments of silence where we pretend we are not mad, but inside there is just that something as a barrier between us. Like God... I don't take pleasure in it. I actually hate it. Listen in, again on God's conversation with Ezekiel... “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Wow... that sounds familiar. Think how God felt. I can feel the tension rising. And He continued... But it is their way which is not fair! When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.” Ezekiel 33:17-20 Can you hear this from your mouth? Do you get the slightest bit of parent perspective? A father who longs for his GOOD kid not to turn toward the wrong crowd. And a father who longs for his kid who made BAD choices to turn around and come back home. God, the Father of all, certainly does not deserve the label, UNFAIR. For He is a just and fair God who judges each and every one of us according to our own ways. Just as we desire to judge our own kids fairly. But like children... we are known to throw fits. I have done so. Sometimes, they might be outbursts seen and heard like a toddler. And you may say, I would never... But what about the days of worrying over something as it tosses and tumbles in your mind, keeping you awake at night. That's a childish behavior as well not trusting the Father who promised to take care of everything. It really is a fit, more of the mind... we just can't see it on the outside. I'm not pointing fingers here. The only reason I can describe them is because I've had them! Which is why I am so glad that I came running back to my Abba Father after my days as a rebellious heart, worrying and wandering, kicking and screaming. Because then I learned of the greatest gift of all times, GRACE. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT GRACE is the antithesis of unfair. When it floats about us, that dreaded three word phrase shouldn't ever come near our lips. For we no longer have to count the sins, nor the righteous acts. Nothing is ever going to earn our way into the heart of God. But, oh for His GRACE! It's like floating on a cloud. It's like swimming in a sea of surrender. It's like dancing on a feather. I feel lighter than air when I set my heart and mind on the GRACE of God. This my new perspective.. for I know that He is a good Father who cares for me beyond reason. And he takes pleasure in that. Word of God train me today... To not count upon my righteousness to earn my way to you, nor focus on the judgment of my sins to keep me from You. To float upon the GRACE You take pleasure in giving.
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January 2019
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