Into the Fire

Some people really enjoy surprises. Love ‘em, in fact. Others like to “produce” surprises, as in parties, unique gifts—you get my drift. It occurred to me today that God is never surprised. Not by our thoughts or our actions, nor by our words or even our gestures, if you know what I mean. No, He either smiles, rejoices, is saddened, disappointed, and even perhaps angered, but never surprised.

In spite of all He is subjected to by His creation, He loves with an everlasting love. He pursues people to share that love with them, to offer them a forgiveness that they cannot live without or get anyplace else, and to provide a genuine relationship with them that will be unequaled on earth and will last for eternity. The only ones surprised by that are those of us who have grabbed hold of His extended hand and clung to His offer of sacrificial provision. Because you see, to accept His salvation, we had to come to terms with who we are without Him, and, oh, was that not a pretty sight. And we had to come to terms with who He is, always was, and always will be. We paled in comparison, shrunk down to our human size: small, meager, needy, desperate and lost.

With that in mind I cannot reason why some are so blasé about their Christianity, like it’s just another piece of clothing they wear—and not even to dress up. When we are told to clothe ourselves in Christ, do we really grasp the largeness of that? Put on Jesus, His sinless blood covering after suffering the punishment we should’ve had. Wear His garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, depression, devastation—like those persecuted believers do as they’re being tortured for their faith. Not to forget the spiritual armor provided by His sinless conduct, death, and resurrection which gave us the power to wear it along with the Power of the Spirit to defeat our enemy’s schemes against us. How can some take so much for granted without expressing the passion of knowing and loving God through His Son? How do they survive the trials of this life? How do they resist the influences of this world hammering on us day in and day out?

And God is not surprised by any of it. By any of us. Not by our blasé attitudes and the lifestyles that follow. He’s seen it all before. In so many. For so long. No surprises.

Father, you know my struggles. You know all my weaknesses, whether or not I cop to them. You know. I love you so much, Lord. Make me better—give me a willing heart to improve, to make you smile, to give you joy. Help me correct my errors and reduce my sins. “You’re all I’m livin’ for . . .” In the Name of Jesus, Amen.