Love Fall

Love fall is the title of a series of messages I have been preaching at Crossroads Church. As is my custom the title is not what it seems and the topics have a sideways slant in our examination. We began with Adam and Eve and their sin in the garden. You know they deserved death. Yet, God does not give us what we deserve. God gives from his love for us. After pronouncing the consequences for the fall, God makes clothes for them because they were naked. We then looked at the sin of Cain in killing his brother Abel. Once again Cain deserved death but God did not take his life in fact he placed a mark on Cain to protect him from others.

The saddest words come in God’s declaration of regret in the time of Noah. The men of the earth sinned in such a fashion to make God regret that he had made them. He would destroy the world by a flood. Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah had to build a boat that would save him, his family and all of the land creatures from the destruction. Yet we have the rainbow as a promise of God that he will never do that again. He has been good to his promise. Once again not what we deserved but what God would do from his love.

We moved on to David the “man after God’s own heart.” Yet David was trapped in lust, sexual sin, conspiracy and murder.  The man after God’s own heart had done all of this and tried to cover up each action. Nathan confronts him and calls him out. David is guilty, admits it and by the law should have been killed but God does not give him what he deserves. There are consequences, the baby of the infidelity dies, David’s family respects him no more, and his son Absalom takes the kingdom from his father for a time until the son’s death. David returns as King but scared. That should have been the end of him and his legacy but no, God had plans. From David came Solomon and ultimately the Savior of the world, Jesus. David got not what he deserved but what God would give.

In all of this God is the wronged party. He has every right to punish and eliminate the offenders and yet chooses to extend grace not based upon their actions but based upon himself and his faithfulness. Reliant K has a phrase “the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair.” That is beauty and more than enough to be thankful.

Thanksgiving is a great time with family to gather for food and fellowship around a table. I have been asking folks what is their favorite food of Thanksgiving. One answer wrapped this up. The man said my Mother’s Mac and Cheese. I asked him what made it special expecting a listing of ingredients or technique he replied, “the one who made it.” “The one who made it,” that is a great answer. His Momma is proud. She should be. This series has been targeted at us so that we might see what God has really done in time and space in spite of what we really deserved. Grace makes life not fair. Thank you God and to blow your mind Christmas comes next!

The ultimate expression of the character of God to come himself fixing the problem of our sin once and for all by dying in our place should throw us to our faces before God in gratitude and worship. There is NOTHING more significant for which to be thankful. Turkey is good. Mac and Cheese is fine. Dressing is delightful (my favorite). Pecan pie is pleasure but the love of God in our Savior is…well…like…describing…what? There is nothing like it. Our thankfulness for God’s amazing grace should take our breath away.

Love Fall well you bet. Cooler temps, beautiful colors what’s not to love? But we can love our fall from God not because we are so bad but because God is So good. Thankfulness focuses on the good things, the simple things like Momma’s Mac and cheese. Grace is not simple but it is simple amazing and undeserved and only One makes it, God!

Be Thankful and enjoy the grace of God!

Happy Thanksgiving!   

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG
Eat another bit of your favorite Thanksgiving food for me and enjoy it!