Too Hot

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Good morning Zebras,

Benicia, where I live, is having a bit of a heat wave. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area so our climate tends to be moderate. We are not on the ocean, but we are close enough that we often have coastal fog and cool nights, but not yesterday.

Yesterday was miserable. It was over 100 degrees and I don’t have air conditioning.

Last night at Bible study we finished up our study on the first three chapters of Revelation. We talked about overcomers and those who do not overcome. Overcomers, believers who stand strong to the end, have a wealth of rewards waiting for them. The rest get thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Last night when I woke up hot, sweaty, and miserable, the first thought that popped in my head was “Thank You God that You did not give me what I deserved.”

I deserve the Lake of Fire, I get Heaven.

Most of us who live in Benicia take for granted what I call “God’s air-conditioning,” the fantastic breeze that comes up every afternoon and cools everything down. Sometimes we even complain about it because it makes things “too cold.”

But yesterday when it didn’t show up we all missed it.

And that is how I think it is with God’s grace. We are so used to having it that sometimes we take it for granted. We may even complain a little because God hasn’t given us more. But if we ever lost His grace, even for a second, we would miss it immediately and do anything to get it back.

Love,
Jill