sacred strokes

As some of you know, I am currently 7 1/2 months pregnant. My husband Aaron went to the store a couple nights ago and asked if I’d like anything in particular as a snack. I responded that ice cream would be awesome, and he returned after a brief time with ice cream for me and gummy worms for himself. Not the healthiest haul, but such are some of the little joys in this life. I ate ice cream while he ate gummy worms and we enjoyed just being on the couch watching TV together.

The next day, I noticed something peculiar when I came home from work. The tub of gummy worms, as shown in the photo, was left almost entirely with the red & blue ones, with some red & yellow ones remaining and only a couple hidden orange & green ones at the bottom. I know what you might be thinking (aside from the notion that I am way too observant and possibly weird for noticing such a thing)…. You may be inclined to assume that Aaron’s favorites must be the orange & green ones, followed by the red & yellow, and that he must not really like the blue & red. But that’s where you’d be wrong. He likes them all the same. And he knows that the red & blue are my favorites, followed by the red & yellow and that I don’t particularly care for the orange & green ones at all. He purposely left my favorite gummy worms just in case I decided at some point that I would want some. I didn’t ask him to do that – I hadn’t even wanted gummy worms! – but I feel some kind of special due to that fact that he not only knows my favorite kind of gummy worms even when I don’t eat them all that often, but that he also thought to save those for last in case I should choose to eat some at some point. There’s something deeper about love in this little situation and it might seem small but I think it’s a beautiful depiction.

This gummy worm scenario not only made me appreciate my husband’s thoughtfulness and love for me, but it also caused me to reflect on those things that God has reserved and provided for us in this life. I think of Jesus and how there are people who don’t want Him. They would prefer the ice cream, thank you very much. But God provided His Son, He took the worst parts of sin onto Himself, and left us with only the best just in case we allow the Holy Spirit to move us to accept Christ as our Savior. And just in case we do, we are left with what will prove to be our favorite, biggest blessing in this life and forevermore. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God did not wait for us to repent and ask for such a gift; He gave it freely before we were even able to realize our dire need. Just in case we should turn to Him and accept such a tremendous, transforming gift someday. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” God’s gift of Himself was made in love before we ever even knew Him, chose Him, or served Him. (Not that we could ever earn such a gift, anyway!) There will still be some of those “non-favorite” parts of life as natural consequences of our disobedience or due to the fallen nature of this world (perhaps consider those the orange & green gummy worms in life), but the Lord Himself bore the heaviest burden of our sins so that we wouldn’t have to.

I consider how our Heavenly Father gives us each additional gifts and talents and blessings, as well, and that we have done nothing to deserve those, either. I expect that some of those are given to us just in case we should choose to use them for His glory. Just in case we will come to realize that these are displays of His love for us. Just in case we decide to engage as the specific part of the body we were created to be. Although Scripture mentions that some gifts can and should be prayed for, it ultimately reminds us time and again that the Lord bestows them as He determines, not because we are better than anyone else or because we have somehow willed them into being as a result of our own efforts. 1 Corinthians 12:11 tells us that the one, same Spirit empowers and enables all the gifts and that He “apportions to each one individually as He wills.” Romans 12:6 mentions that we have gifts that differ “according to the grace given to each of us.” The Lord has grace enough for everyone, and believers are all parts of the same body. No part should think more highly of itself than it should, and should instead consider the other parts as being even higher than itself. At the same time, we are to rejoice and appreciate where God has placed us and how He has uniquely gifted us to serve. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” The gifts are not meant to be hoarded and selfishly gobbled up by our own selves! We are given such gifts to serve and glorify God for the benefit of others, as well! Just in case something we do or say might plant a seed, or water some buried, long lost shoots longing for light, or fertilize and bring refreshment to an already strong, thriving plant which can easily be overlooked due to its health but still needs tender care all the same. We may all be at different places in our individual walks with the Lord, but we will always benefit both personally and as a body by allowing the various parts to work together, by serving our own specific purpose, and by encouraging one another in the Lord. Romans 11:29 says that “God’s gift and His call are irrevocable” and James 1:17 drives home that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The Lord gives freely and has reserved a special place for us to serve and even one day to be with Him forever, no longer separated by sin, with our eyes fully opened to His glory.

Lastly, though not least important by any means, I consider the Holy Spirit and how, again, the Lord did not wait to be asked in order to grant us this beautiful, mysterious means of connection to Him. John 15:26 takes place even before Jesus is taken away to be killed, but is where He says to His disciples, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” Even before the disciples realized that Jesus was going to be killed (thus leaving them for a few days), be raised, and return to them for 40 days, Jesus assured them that they would be provided an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who would continue to testify about Him! Who would soften hard hearts, speak only truth, encourage, uplift, convict, and move people to action! The Lord knew that without His physical, human presence in this world, we would need Someone to open our spiritual eyes and ears and draw us to Him despite His no longer being on earth in the flesh. Romans 8:26-27 says that, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Did we have to ask for such grace? Did humans plead for the Spirit to intercede for us before the Lord had already gone ahead and provided? God was already on top of it; He has already taken care of it. Luke 12:32 is where Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” It pleases the Lord to bestow such favor and redemption?! Yes, He longs for us to take hold of such a gift! Words truly cannot express just how good He is!

This reflection arose because I have a great and loving bridegroom, my husband, who took efforts without me even asking so that I had the opportunity to enjoy only the best. As Christians, we have an even greater, more loving Bridegroom who took immeasurably greater efforts without our asking to provide us with something infinitely more awesome than gummy worms. Even the red & blue ones.

2 Corinthians 9:15, HLC