I love the ocean. I feel so overwhelmingly blessed that I am able to live right on the water. I am carried away everyday by the sounds, the breeze, and the smell of salt in the air. As William was working out on the elliptical this week, he asked me, "Can you ever get tired of that view?!" No, no I don't believe you can!!
Today, for our sabbath rest we decided to head downstairs with a picnic in hand to spend the day just being beach bums! We had a wonderful time. William was able to meet some boys on holiday from Saudi Arabia, and Grace played with girls from Portugal and India. This really is a fascinating place to live!
At one point in the day, I looked up to find Grace standing in the surf, throwing buckets of water back out into the gulf. As I watched her, I thought to myself, "That child really does some crazy things sometimes." As soon as it came into my mind, the Lord whispered to me, "Just as crazy as when people try to throw their righteous works up to me, the one who is righteous." Wow! how often is this the case in my life! I asked Grace what she was doing, and her reply was, "trying to help the ocean not loose so much water." Here we are, so small in comparison to the sea raging around us, holding a bucket of self works trying to throw it back so that He doesn't lose too much water. We are crazy!! He doesn't need us! He is trying to lavish us with His love. All He wants us to do is swim in HIS righteousness....just "be still and know that I AM God!!" (Psalm 46:10)
But it goes beyond this present craziness....we not only work in vain; we employ others around us to join in the toil. As the day progressed, Grace being the leader that she is, had kids (in the name of service of good works, of course) throwing buckets of water. The breakdown comes when those following us (our own children for example) no longer desire to work. They were only working out of obedience or simply to please us, but at some point they will see the futility of striving with no hope of success. The kids on the beach all went on to do something else leaving Grace alone on a weary task. Some left the ocean area entirely.
Are the people that follow us able to see that it is a relationship with the water (God) that is the most important thing? Or do they simply see that following rules/the law, attending services/meetings, giving and "obedience" are the things that matter to us? If we are only following rules and working to "help" make ourselves righteous, not only will we be sorely disappointed (as well as physically spent!), we will miss out on the joy of simply bathing in His abounding grace!
Romans 3:20-24 instructs us that we will not be justified by the deeds of the law. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
In other words, let's stop adding to the gospel! "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that not one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
No more throwing water back into the ocean!! Let's simply trust in His goodness and walk in His grace! "Where the Spirit of the Lord is - there is freedom!" 2 Corinthians 3:17 AT
Today, for our sabbath rest we decided to head downstairs with a picnic in hand to spend the day just being beach bums! We had a wonderful time. William was able to meet some boys on holiday from Saudi Arabia, and Grace played with girls from Portugal and India. This really is a fascinating place to live!
At one point in the day, I looked up to find Grace standing in the surf, throwing buckets of water back out into the gulf. As I watched her, I thought to myself, "That child really does some crazy things sometimes." As soon as it came into my mind, the Lord whispered to me, "Just as crazy as when people try to throw their righteous works up to me, the one who is righteous." Wow! how often is this the case in my life! I asked Grace what she was doing, and her reply was, "trying to help the ocean not loose so much water." Here we are, so small in comparison to the sea raging around us, holding a bucket of self works trying to throw it back so that He doesn't lose too much water. We are crazy!! He doesn't need us! He is trying to lavish us with His love. All He wants us to do is swim in HIS righteousness....just "be still and know that I AM God!!" (Psalm 46:10)
But it goes beyond this present craziness....we not only work in vain; we employ others around us to join in the toil. As the day progressed, Grace being the leader that she is, had kids (in the name of service of good works, of course) throwing buckets of water. The breakdown comes when those following us (our own children for example) no longer desire to work. They were only working out of obedience or simply to please us, but at some point they will see the futility of striving with no hope of success. The kids on the beach all went on to do something else leaving Grace alone on a weary task. Some left the ocean area entirely.
Are the people that follow us able to see that it is a relationship with the water (God) that is the most important thing? Or do they simply see that following rules/the law, attending services/meetings, giving and "obedience" are the things that matter to us? If we are only following rules and working to "help" make ourselves righteous, not only will we be sorely disappointed (as well as physically spent!), we will miss out on the joy of simply bathing in His abounding grace!
Romans 3:20-24 instructs us that we will not be justified by the deeds of the law. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
In other words, let's stop adding to the gospel! "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that not one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
No more throwing water back into the ocean!! Let's simply trust in His goodness and walk in His grace! "Where the Spirit of the Lord is - there is freedom!" 2 Corinthians 3:17 AT
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