My wife loves accounting. Being that her father was an auditor it makes sense that she loves balancing books. She approaches an out of balance checkbook with the zeal of a puzzle master. I think that is why she allows me to write checks. She knows when the bank statement comes there will be a problem. Oh such fun! The more mistakes I made the better. My being error prone is one of my endearing characteristics.
Jesus also loves error prone creatures. In Romans 5 Paul wrote, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, . .” It is so joyful to give things to people. It must make Jesus very happy to give us all the grace we need. Paul anticipated our then saying, “Well, if it makes God happy to pour out grace. Let’s sin some more, thus giving Him an opportunity for more happiness.” That is why Paul starts out Romans 6 the way he did. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” This is because there is something that makes God even happier than forgiving us. It is not having to forgive us.
Seeing us grow. Seeing us overcome weaknesses. Seeing us become more like Jesus each day brings God ecstatic joy. When He made Adam, who was not error prone, God said, “That is very good.” Seeing you and I gradually become stronger induces God to repeat, “That is very good.” Won’t it be grand to hear God say to us someday, “Good job”?
I wonder if someday when the bank statement comes and my wife discovers no errors if she will look at me and say, “Good job.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 3, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org