Monday, January 25, 2016

FAIR TRADE




For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16


One of the most enjoyable things I recall from my grade school years was the fun of trading comic books. In those days gone by, comic books cost a nickle or sometimes a dime if the comic book was thicker in size. I loved western theme comic books, but also liked mystery ones....Dick Tracy, Green Hornet, etc. Superman was a favorite of most of us. There were classic comic books that were more expensive. Classic books such as Ivanhoe, Tom Sawyer, Heidi, and such were put into comic book form. There were romance comic books, but my Mother would never let me buy them or trade for them. They were really very tame compared to what they would be today.

Trading comics (as we called them) was usually a neighborhood thing. In those days, playmates, close family and friend associations were within one's neighborhood. We never traded comics at school. Trading was almost an art. Most kept their comics in good condition. Comics were then more valuable in trading. If you had a couple of comics without covers, you could probably only get one good comic for the two unsightly ones. Even comics with torn or messy covers lost out in the trading process. Classic comics were thicker. If one of those was in good shape, you could get two regular sized comics for it.

Americans have bargained for things back into our history. In the mountains where I live, folks back in the 1800's often had to bargain for basic needs. Storekeepers especially, took in farm commodities such as eggs, butter, chickens, animal hides for things like coffee, nails, sugar and such things that the average farm couldn't provide. Farmers selling animals would bargain between seller and buyer for the best deal.

Most people have gone into a car dealership with a used car hoping to purchase a new(er) car after bargaining with a salesperson for the best deal possible. Most know that the salesperson can be talked into a lower price on the car to be purchased, but anyone knows the company has allowed for all of that in their pricing process. Nonetheless, when an apparent good deal is in place, the buyer walks away feeling a financial victory has been won.

One thing I've learned in my years of walking with the Lord is that He is nothing like a car salesman, comic book trader or country store owner. Too often we view Him as Santa Claus Who we can go to with our list of wants and sometimes even demands. God cannot be bargained with. God is Who He is, can be no more or less. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”

I love seeing in so many portions of Scripture those things the Lord IS. Those statements are easy to be found. I love reading those characteristics of the Lord that not only warm my own heart, but is a constant reminder that those things that are Him are not for sale, cannot be changed and cannot be bargained away. Those things are set in concrete...you and I can rest in Him with complete trust.

For instance....I've been studying Psalm 145. I love this Psalm as it is not only a song of praise to God but spells out many specifics of who He is. Let me give some of those things in this Psalm that speaks to who He is:

    The Lord is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness (8)
    The Lord is good to all (9)
    The Lord sustains all who fall (14)
    The Lord is righteous (17)
    The Lord is near to all who call upon Him (18)
    The Lord keeps all who love Him (20)

There are so many more of those things in Scripture we can relish, but I can just get chills reading those few things. He's not asking anything in return. He only extends invitations to all who will accept Him and walk in relationship with Him as well.

In this same Psalm, the writer puts in words what we can do for God out of gratitude. We are often people of “I wills” in our relationship with the Lord. We mean well as this writer does, but we forget and often fail. Not only does this Psalm speak of those things, but also points out “I will” statements that have to do with us personally. Here's where some things break down...purely on our part. We are quick with the “I will's” hoping to keep in God's favor as if we want to strike a deal with Him much like we would a car salesman.

When I see that God SO loved that He gave, I must say that my trading off with Him seems to fade. There is nothing I can do for Him or give Him that would be a tear drop in the ocean compared to all He's done for me. Anything I might want to trade off with him is as an old, dirty, torn up comic book that no one would want. Scripture tells us that even our righteousness is as filthy rags. No swaps with God. I will be happy pouring out my heart to Him and will just let Him have His way.

Dear Father, thank You for Your ultimate gift to us in Your son Jesus. Forgive when we become frustrated and try to make demands of You when we have no right to do so. I thank You for listening to us patiently and then doing for us what You know to be in our best interest. May we always stand in awe of You and not treat You in a casual way. In Jesus name...Amen


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