Common Grace Revisited

This poem was first published on November 6, 2012.
I am still pondering the same truths I wrote about six years ago.

How do You determine, Lord, the answer to our prayers?
How do You discern, dear Lord, the ways to show You care?

How do You distinguish when the farmer prays for rain?
How do You answer the worried bride who asks for sun again?

How do You know what’s always best, and good, and true?
Don’t You get annoyed at those who try so hard to be You?

How can You choose better? How can You choose best?
How do You have the energy to do things with no rest?

Is it loud in Heaven, when our prayers come to Your throne?
Or can You separate the voice and listen to one alone?

I don’t know how You do it, Lord. How do You rule the world?
If I were You, I’d give up by now, my surrender flag unfurled.

We each pray for such different things and trust that You will know.
The best way, and the right way, and the path that we should go.

I think that if we had your job, for even just one minute,
We’d see that it’s too hard for us; we need Your wisdom in it.

I’m grateful to You, precious Lord, for the things You do for me.
I may not understand Your ways, but they’re good, as all can see.

Thank You for determining the answer to my prayer.
Yes, or no, or wait, My child, show me that You care.

Thank You for always giving me the thing You know I need.
It’s not always what I ask for, but it is good, indeed.

I’m so glad that You are God and I’m so glad I’m not!
I’m glad that You’re the Potter and I’m just a simple pot.

On days like this, when prayers are raised, both sides, indeed, You’ll hear.
Thank you, Lord, that You decide and tell us, Have no fear!

May Your people un-stiff their necks and hold their head up high.
May we accept Your Sovereign rule with a submissive cry.

All outcomes are in Your Hands, O Lord, the safest place to be.
You’re the God who knows and hears; You are the God that sees.

______________________________________________________________

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

Common Grace.
Sun rising on the evil and the good.
Rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

We do not practice common grace.
We take sides, we hold grudges, and we point fingers.

Oh, how we need God!

The exhortation is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
That is impossible!

Even as a believer in Jesus, we still have a sin nature.
As a believer in Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit who sanctifies us.
As we are sanctified, made holy, we begin to look more like Him.

Made holy, yet never attaining complete holiness this side of heaven.
Made perfect yet never attaining complete perfection this side of heaven.

Because we are never completely holy or never completely perfect, we cannot be God!
Since we know we are not God, we can stop trying to be.

There is only one God who is Sovereign over all.
Let’s leave all the decisions to Him!

 

2 responses to “Common Grace Revisited”

1. Amen and Amen!

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   • Blessings, sweet friend!
     Gina

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