I was thinking this morning about the difference between the bowls of candy people keep on their desk for everyone to share and the lunch bag in the refrigerator that has a name on it.
God does this also. Some things are free like the candy in the bowl and others belong to God and if we are to have any of that thing it is because God has given it to us expressly on His terms.
Salvation is rare candy brought back from an exotic destination that is in a bowl on Jesus' desk. It is free but rare. No one else you are going to meet has this brand. You have to go to Him to get it.
What a difference taking things on our own terms is versus receiving them God's way. People take by themselves and they take together as if they can remake the guidelines that God has set forth. Sexuality is a labeled item. People may consent but that does not mean God has given His stamp of approval. God wants individuals protected... even against themselves. Human life is labeled. Human dignity is also. God has another way for our needs to be met in His time. Taking is a shortcut that undermines relationships.
"For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23b ESV
Sin is everything outside the relationship with God. Sin sneaks in the window of life instead of knocking on the door and waiting for the door to open.
You can go person by person through the scriptures and see people take what wasn't theirs to take but this account of David in a backslidden state is so clear.
"And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, 'There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.'
Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.'
Nathan said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'
David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.'
And Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.'" - 2 Samuel 12:1-13 ESV
God said to David, 'I gave and would have given more to you but instead you took.'
God had made David royalty in Israel and made him into a spearhead to be victorious over the enemies of Israel in a way that no else had before.
Grace makes us this way. We have a victory that is ours and it is unusual and God given. We can take the land. We can function in mental warfare and win because we live in Jesus' victory. Taking what isn't ours will just hinder us from receiving the things that are freely given.
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." - Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV
I want the words that can only be found in Christ's office. I want to receive what God gives freely and not live laboring to buy what I can't get on my own. God gives. He is so generous with what He has. His ownership is complete. His ways are perfect.
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