Ritz Crackers and Grace

Recently I opened a new package of toilet paper, and immediately realized that the holes in the rolls are bigger.  Now, that’s a new way of giving the consumer less bang for the buck, or at least it’s new to me.  I’m used to the rolls getting more narrow, and the Ritz cracker stacks getting shorter, but I hadn’t yet seen this one.  I wonder what they’ll come up with next.  Wouldn’t it be great if they spent their time trying to figure out how to give us MORE instead of less?

God does.  Consider GRACE.

“Where sin increased, GRACE abounded all the more!” - Rom. 5:21

“For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” – Eph. 2:8

“..the GRACE of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Ti. 1:14

“For God is able to make all GRACE abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” – 2 Cor. 9:8

“…My GRACE is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness…” – 2 Cor. 12:9

So next time you open a bag of chips that’s 90% air, or notice that your favorite shampoo is only 21 oz. instead of 24, pause & say a prayer of thanks that GRACE is never in short supply!

Consequences, Not Condemnation

Most of us are familiar with Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

So what does this verse mean, exactly?  Well, no condemnation, no fear of hell or eternal damnation, for those who are part of the body of Christ, those who have been baptized into Him by the Holy Spirit (not speaking of water, but spiritual baptism – see 1 Cor. 12:13).

Does this mean that we can all do whatever we want, and there will be no consequences?  Nope.  A consequence is a result of an action.  Remember Newton’s third law that we all learned in school?  For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  Or in Bible-lingo, we reap what we sow.

How we live while we’re on this earth is largely a result of our own doing.  Yes, there are circumstances that are beyond our control, like where we were born, who our parents were, and so on.  But choices that we make can and do have natural results.

For example, how do we react when we’ve been wronged?  Studies have proven that unforgiveness leads to health problems, such as headaches, backaches, immunity problems, and even cancer.

What about drug abuse?  Some drugs have medicinal uses, but use can quickly turn to abuse and eventually bondage, even for the believer.

I could go on and on, about toxic thinking, overeating, strife, sexual misconduct and perversions, and so on.  But know this:

  1.  We have choices.

  2.  Actions have consequences.

So “let us press on to maturity” (Heb. 6:1).  Let’s take care of ourselves, and stop reaping the consequences of careless living.  Let’s start living the abundant life that Jesus paid for with His own life!

Peace - Davina