We’ve had an interesting twenty-four hours. It all began late last evening when I opened our back door. With incredible power our one hundred pound lab exploded past me out onto the patio. There was a flurry of motion involving a ten pound skunk trying to figure out what direction to unload. Suddenly the air filled with a cloud of you know what. Even though the dog was in the midst of it all she did not (we are so thankful) receive a direct hit.
Do you remember Matthew 16:16 where Jesus warned His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees? It takes such a tiny amount to change everything. Our environment all night and day was changed by just a tad of skunk power.
Over and over again I see the leaven of the Pharisees attacking the Gospel. I hear people say, “Yes, of course we are saved by grace.” Then comes the leaven that stinks like a skunk. “But.” It is that word “But” and what follows. They have to add some tiny stipulation. It is almost as if they are afraid someone is going to get away with something they didn’t. The Gospel has incredible power to save and we must be on guard not to let anything steal away its effectiveness. There are no specials on grace. 2015 isn’t some special time when extra sins can be forgiven. Grace is lavished upon us any time we are in need. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 8, 2015
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org