Issue 1481 – Puddles – June 24, 2024
The mother and son were out for a walk around the lake. The boy, who might have been three years old, was having a delightful time. He came to a puddle about 20 feet long and gleefully stomped and splashed his way through it.
His mom called out, “Evan! Don’t!”
Evan reached the end of the puddle, looked at his mom, and then turned back the way he had just come. He stomped and splashed all the way back to the end of the puddle. His mother was not amused. He was getting a serious talking to when I walked past them.
I could relate to little Evan. Firstly, because I have liked to play in puddles ever since I was about his age. My mother will tell you I never met a puddle I didn’t want to splash in or a creek I didn’t want to wade across.
Secondly because, I’m not always obedient as I should be.
Sometimes, I fall into sin accidentally. I’m not paying attention, and I fall for temptation. Sometimes, though, I tune God out because I know He’s telling me something I don’t want to hear. Like little Evan, I want to do my own thing. I’m not proud of my disobedience, but I’d be telling you lies if I said I was always in sync with what God wanted.
It’s a foolish way to live, I know because He wants only the best for me. Sometimes, though, I think I know better than God and charge through my puddles.
Fortunately, He is patient. People often ask me how a good God can allow so many awful things to happen. The answer is that He loves us enough to be patient with us.
Given all the times we sin, it’s only by His patience and mercy that any of us are left around. We know that any sin displeases our Holy God, yet we keep doing it. By any standard of “justice,” we should have all been struck dead long ago.
He knew what a mess we’d make of things, and He still sent His Son.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
The Son loves us enough to intercede on our behalf with the Father
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Hebrews 7:23-25
We must not think that His patience in handing out judgement is the same as His approval of our sin. He DOES NOT APPROVE.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
When we’ve messed up and fallen into sin, we need to turn to Him in humility with a repentant and grateful heart. Repentant of our sin. Grateful for His patience.
Until next time, stay out of the puddles. If you get wet, take it to our patient Lord.
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)