This afternoon at the deli section of our supermarket we ordered some sliced cheese. Carefully the man put on his gloves to protect us from germs. The problem was as he was carrying the cheese to the scale he coughed on the new slices. When I pointed it out to him he acted genuinely surprised. The question is was he surprised that I pointed it out or surprised that he had unconsciously coughed. Obviously we did not buy it.
As we walked away I wondered how often we unconsciously sin. I think we would be horrified if we knew. It is in our nature. It comes as easily to us as breathing. Lest at this point you become fearful, thinking if this is true then you are lost. Allow me to reassure you that while God wants us to be perfect, He is very aware that we are not. Therefore, we are covered with grace. Ah ha someone will say. You are using grace to excuse sin. No, not at all. Continued deliberate sinning with no effort to do better is abusing God’s love. Thus we negate our salvation. But should we want from the depths of our hearts to do better and just not do so does not negate His gift to us. What we are talking about here is a relationship of love and understanding. While every parent wants their child to walk without falling that parent does not throw the toddler out of the family because they stumbled.
Jesus said, “If we as humans know how to give good gifts to our children how much more does our heavenly Father.” We are not better parents than God. He’s the best.
Written by Roger Bothwell on December 27, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org