Skip to main content

All Things

            He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

 

            Have you ever noticed the phrase “along with him” in this verse?  Yes, it’s always been there. Perhaps in different translations and interpretations, it’s not said in those exact words, but the point is that God gives us His Son, with one or more sides of “all things.” Too often, we subscribe to the “dessert first” philosophy and then decide we’re no longer hungry when it comes time for the main dish. We resent the notion that we must eat our vegetables or develop virtues. With a nod to C. S. Lewis, we want Turkish Delight – lots of it – and we want it now.

            Another idea to consider. Suppose you were to invite people to dinner and put together a sumptuous meal cooked to perfection. Would you seat some people at one table and give them access to everything you’ve made while seating others at a different table and providing them with a simpler fair? In this case, we’re not talking about people with food allergies, safety issues, or even the preferences of the diners. It’s all about your choices.  Would you? Neither does God.

            Suppose one of the diners pushed your offerings aside and said she wanted to be served several things you didn’t make. Would you be a bad host if you didn’t make them for that person? Let’s take it to a ridiculous extreme and make one demanded dish a roasted human heart. Would you be a bad host for refusing to make something that is illegal and or morally repugnant for you to make? And if you declined to make this dish, would you no longer be considered as giving your guests “all things”?

            The question is whether “all things” means that God must give us anything and everything we want or whether "all things" means that God will give us good things from what He has made that are good for us. If that doesn’t include everything we think we want, that doesn’t make Him ungracious. It makes us ungrateful.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more