October 14, 2008
Rivers
of Grace
There
is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the
Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at
break of day. Psalm
46:4-5 NIV
For
I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will
pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They
will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Isaiah 44:3-4 NIV
Having
lived in the Portland, Oregon area for several years when I was younger I had a
chance to view some magnificent waterfalls. There were several falls I enjoyed
but there was one particular place that had a viewpoint that takes you in to a
waterfall about half way between where the falls drops off and where the hit the
valley below.
The
river surges to the top of the falls then thunders over a drop of perhaps 150
feet (or more). Under the falls is a big, deep basin carved by years of pounding
water. The basin grows slowly year after year from the river pouring down into
it. Each year it gets a little deeper as the bedrock slowly erodes. It's almost
as if the basin wants to keep all the water for itself because it fears going
dry and goes to great lengths to keep the river from going any place else.
Fortunately,
the power of the river overwhelms the desire of the basin and the river
continues to flow. After churning around in the pool, the river continues its
downstream rush to the sea. These falls pour countless gallons of water every
moment of the day, all year long. The river brings life to all that is
downstream despite the best efforts of the basin to hold it in.
I'm
reminded of God's marvelous grace when I think of those falls. He pours rivers
of mercy, healing, blessing, joy, peace and spiritual gifts into the lives of
those who believe on Him.
Like
the basin, we try and keep it all to ourselves. We want the blessings to stay in
our life and hesitate to share it with others so we build floodgates of me and
mine to hold the blessing in. We're afraid that if we share the blessings and
grace that somehow God's supply of those marvelous gifts might run dry.
Ironically,
when we open the floodgates and let the grace and mercy flow into the lives of
those around us, we're doubly blessed. God not only continues to pour into our
lives, but we see the blessing of others respond to his life giving, and
sustaining gift.
Until
next time, may you open wide and let the streams of God's grace and mercy flow
through you to bring life to others who are thirsting.
Be
blessed
Darrel
Mason