May #jammed: Growing Grace.
Day 146: Whole.
“Does not he who guards your life know it?” Proverbs 24:12
The day that we took our daughters into the Disney store in Chicago is one we will never 
forget. The big doors swung open, and we told them they each could pick one thing. In typical fashion, as opposite as they’ve always been, the youngest knew exactly what she wanted and swept Dumbo up into her arms …never to be parted again. My oldest picked up her favorite character at the time …Skeleton Jack.
“But mom…I have to bring Sally home, too!” she squealed in protest over our “pick one” rule. “They love each other, mom …please!”
We left the store, and the city, without Sally, assuming that all things Disney were everywhere. They are not. And 5 years later, when her iron clad memory still held onto the separation of her stuffed love-birds, Santa finally tracked it down and put it under the tree.
“Sally!” She squealed! “Finally!” and ran upstairs to retrieve Jack …who had faithfully sat on her bed all these years, waiting for Sally.
Her memory is good, but only God remembers all and knows all. He knows who we are and remembers our thoughts.
Wait. Remembers our thoughts? I don’t think I like that. I can’t control my thoughts! Can I?
No, we can’t. But Jesus came to do what we are incapable of. And, when we spend time with Him in the Word and in prayer …we have less thoughts we’d like God to forget about. Today’s verse addresses this kind of topic, on account of all the times we thought about helping someone …and didn’t. Thought about sticking up for someone …but fear stopped us. Thought about going out of our way to invite, include, or inquire …but just …didn’t.
Every thought. That’s overwhelming. Let’s look at the rest of the text that today’s verse highlights:
” Rescue everyone you can of those being taken away and killed,
and hold on to those innocent souls staggering toward their own slaughter.
If you excuse yourself, saying, “Look, we didn’t know anything about this,”
doesn’t God, who knows what you are really thinking, understand your motives?
Isn’t your Protector aware of why you aren’t protecting the innocent?
Will He not repay you in kind?” Proverbs 24:11-12 (VOICE)
Motives. He knows our motives. When we catch thoughts of justification creeping up into our excuses, we are letting others be dragged away.
” Whether those are being led away deserve it or not, they must be given help and support.” -Zondervan Bible Commentary
We are placed around people that need our help. By dishonoring our commitments we are missing opportunities to love on someone who needs it. By letting our ridged generalizations overcome our gut reaction to reach out, we are losing sight of the point of life. To love …for Him. We are the outstretched arms of Jesus …called to love each other. Don’t forget.
Father, Praise You for Jesus, and the way He motivates us to reach out on His behalf. Thank You for forgiving us for all the thoughts that are mortifying to admit to ourselves …let alone to You! Forgive us for trying to shove them down, and help us to bring them up and chase after Jesus more. Make our hearts more like His every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Happy Thinking,
Megs
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