Pastor’s Blog

I don’t know about you, but I often seek to understand the logic of something. I am wired to believe that things ought to make sense. Now don’t get me wrong. I know that I don’t always act logically. The things I do don’t always make sense. But, I do desire for there to be a reason behind how I live as well as the world where I find myself living. I would guess this is true for most of us.

Let me share a recent journey I had in attempting to understand the logic of grace, God’s unmerited favor and love He has for each of us. I came across this verse from Isaiah:

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Isa 30:18).

Note the amazing logic of God’s grace: Earlier in the chapter we discover that God’s people forsake Him for a false salvation; therefore, He is gracious to them. But He waits, for “the Lord is a God of justice.” He knows they picked to live outside of His purpose for them. They have decided to live outside the parameter of safety spelled out in Scripture. God’s justice allows them to endure the consequences of their wrong decision. This act of justice is an act of grace. The Lord allows it so that they will have the opportunity to come to their senses so that they will return to Him. God is ready to pour out His extravagant love on them but waits for them to position themselves to receive all the goodness He has for them.

This logic of God’s grace is constant. I mean that it is as true for us as it was for those in days of old. He desires to pour out His extravagant love on us, but He waits for us to position ourselves to receive His abundant blessings. Of course, this side of heaven his blessings come amidst this world that can be harsh and cruel. God is always good even if the world is not. Further, our eyes can become blind of God’s goodness by the stuff of earth that tries to rob us of our joy. The simple truth is that this side of eternity we experience His grace as a foretaste of the fullness of His redeeming purpose when we pass from this world to the next experiencing God’s perfect grace in the midst of paradise.

There is logic to God’s grace, and it is rooted in the reality that God is both just and full of love. This side of eternity His justice graciously works to awaken us to the great need of returning to Him when we stray. He lovingly waits for us to position ourselves to receive His abundant blessings.

I desire to be ever thankful for Lord’s amazing grace. I do not want to wrongly seek salvation elsewhere, trusting in others, things or self for what only God can provide. But, I am thankful that when I do stray God graciously allows His justice to remind me to return. He waits for me to position myself back in step with Him so that He can wash over me with His abundant love.

I know the world does not always make sense. However, I find peace in knowing there is logic to God’s grace. Knowing this liberates me from the need to make sense of this world because I know my God is constant and true. The Lord is gracious in His justice and selfless with His love.

I pray each of you is encouraged by the logic of God’s grace and inspired all the more to trust Him. I ask that our confidence in His goodness to us will spur us on to share His love and message with others. It is a true privilege to serve with each of you as my Crosswinds family. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a fast paced world. I am continually reminded how my calendar seems to fly by me at warp speed. The problem is that if we live life at warp speed, we will end up with a warped soul. There has got to be a better way. There is. As the psalmist powerfully proclaims, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psa 46:10).

To “be still” is not a simple statement of pause. It means to stop going it alone and partner with God. This partnership has this caveat; He is our senior partner. We are to submit to him. Such a partnership necessitates time to pause and acknowledge God as well as listen to Him.

We discover a fascinating account in Luke’s gospel.

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I get Martha position. I mean the Son of God shows up with His entourage unannounced, and she gets at it creating a meal from whatever she has in the house. I am sure she is excited to see Jesus, but there is some work that needs to get done. Hospitality is a huge deal.

You can picture Martha working hard and seeing Mary SITTING at the Lord’s feet. Martha asks Jesus to get Mary to help out. It doesn’t seem like such a bad request. This reaction makes sense to me. Jesus’ response cuts us to the quick:

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:41-41).

His response challenges the way I look at this account. It challenges the way I look at God.

At the core the real question is not will I take time to sit with God, but why would I not take the opportunity to sit with God who is willing to sit with me. I mean, think about it, the God who spoke the universe into existence and holds all creation together desires to sit with me.

The simple truth is that life’s demands will always exceed our capacity. The way to succeed is not merely as easy as working harder. Success comes by partnering with God. Sitting with Him and acknowledging Him as the senior partner in the relationship. Then, we walk with Him in the fullness of His strength and direction. It’s not that we are not to do, but that we must begin and continue being with Him. The work is not our focus, but He is our focus, and the fruit of such a life comes from the work He leads and empowers us to accomplish with Him.

As we serve together let us not forget we serve together with God. Let’s remind each other of this often. We are His. Our mission is His. Success is found only in Him and is to be solely attributed to Him. Life may seem to pass by at warp speed, but “be still and acknowledge God.” After all, He is the author of life. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Be blessed and bless others,

Craig Cooper
Lead Pastor