God's Cup of Grace

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Genesis 19:26

Before I started my reading of the Word of God this morning, I was enjoying a mug of Holiday Tea in my new favorite cup.  I received it from my brother and his girlfriend for Christmas this year, and I loved it the moment I laid eyes on it!  Its simple elegance and beautiful symbol of a born again believer's transformed heart and life daily touches my soul.  I can easily relate to the butterfly, and it is my favorite Christian symbol, second only to the cross.  I have always loved butterflies and the color purple, so this was an absolutely perfect gift!

Today, however, through this cup and my Scripture reading, the Lord spoke loudly to my heart.  As I enjoyed my tea and pondered the beauty of God's grace in my my life, so active every moment, and the 'butterfly' state of my spiritual life, I was struck instantly by this convicting thought:

"I am free!  Truly free!  So why do I continually climb back into the confines of my old cocoon and live like a bound worm!?"

As I contemplated the new creation that I have been since the day I recognized my need for a Savior, and how very often I live in my old flesh life, I opened the Word to read Genesis 19.  It was today's reading on a 2-year Bible reading plan.  Once again, God lined up all the pieces of my early morning 'tea thoughts' as my eyes fell upon verse 26.

"But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

Conviction filled my heart as I realized how often I do exactly what Lot's wife did.  I look back (and even walk back) to the life from which I have been set free.  It is spiritually painful for me to see  my own actions and reactions in a woman that God turned to salt!

You see, when I have been extended great grace and have been given an opportunity to live a brand new life as a butterfly, and I choose to live even a moment of my life bound up in sin, the very cocoon of my life before Christ and His grace was showered upon me, I am just like Lot's wife.  She too was being saved from the life she had been living, having been given God's grace to for a new and pure life.  And neither of us deserved it.  Her old life called to her and she turned to look back one last time.  Sadly, it cost her her life.

By grace God has saved me and made me a new creation.  Daily I must fly like a butterfly and not return to my worm-like spiritual state.  I have to choose to no longer live in the bondage of my chrysalis of sin.  By grace I have been saved and set free from sin and death.  By grace my sin need no longer bind me or entangle me in its evil web.  

Today I choose to live in the freedom from sin that Christ attained for me on the cross.  Will you?

Another cup of God's grace for me, please . . . 

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 25

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Day 25:  Zaccheus, the Tax Collector

As Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem, He had to pass through Jericho.  A hush came over those who were on the street that day as they looked to the horizon and saw the Man coming whom they had heard so much about. 

Zaccheus had just made a tax collection from one of the street venders when the hubbub began.  Straining to see over the crowd, Zaccheus became frustrated again by his stature.  It had always plagued him and humiliated him.  But he was rich and he had great power over those whom he was charged to collect from.  Maybe his greed had become his compensation for his lack of height. 

Knowing that he would never get a glimpse of the Man, Zaccheus ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree.   Perching in the tree was just fine with Zaccheus.  He had heard that this Jesus seemed to know things He couldn’t possibly know.  Yes, the tree would do just fine.  He would see Jesus, but maybe Jesus wouldn’t be able to see him—or his cheating, selfish, tax-collecting ways that had made him so wealthy.

“Here He comes.  He doesn’t look like a god.  He looks like a man to me,” Zaccheus mused to himself.  But as he was, Jesus stopped right in front of the tree and looked up—right into Zaccheus’ fearful eyes.  Zaccheus had never been so terrified.  What would Jesus say to him or about him?

“Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house,” were the words that broke the uncomfortable silence.  Out of sheer relief Zaccheus scrambled out of the tree and received Jesus’ invitation to entertain Him that night.  Conviction ripped at Zaccheus’ heart, and he boldly proclaimed his sin of defrauding the people out of more money than he was owed.  Half of all he had he pledged to the poor, and to all he had defrauded, he would return four times as much.

Are you trying to hide your sin from Jesus?  When Jesus looks in your heart and reveals your sin, are you willing to let Him in?  Are you willing to make restitution for your sin?  Jesus saved you to seek out your heart.  Will you go the extra mile for the sake of being in the Presence of Jesus?