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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Inspired by... grace

 

 

This post is actually about the smell of rotting flesh, but I thought putting that in the header might scare some of you off. Hmm... perhaps I should have waited until further down to mention it... maybe this picture will entice you to keep reading!!!

Stapelia_Starfish

This is a Stapelia blossom, currently blooming on my mom's back porch. It is a succulent, sometimes called Starfish Flower and sometimes called, Carrion. As in dead.rotting.meat. Why? You've probably already guessed. Because that is exactly what it smells like.

Gross.

Cactus_Close_Up

Right. But isn't it beautiful? My mom is willing to put up with the smell, because of the beauty of the blossom.

Some people think God is like my mom.

Willing to ignore the rotting smell of our (sinful) flesh because He loves us so much.

He's not.

Stapelia_Ezekiel32

This particular passage in Ezekiel is God's judgment on Egypt. But there are plenty of examples in the Old Testament where He dealt just as harshly with His people. Even a cursorily read through the Bible will tell you that God takes sin seriously. When I read these passages I am so thankful that we live under the covenant (agreement) of Grace.

That Jesus suffered the punishment for all my sin for me and when I accept what He did on the cross, God sees me as holy. It's like an exchange. Jesus took my sin and gave me His righteousness. Not a fair exchange, no. That's why it's called a sacrifice.

Do you sacrifice for your husband? your kids? Why? Because you love them, right? Do they always deserve it?

That's grace. Unmerited (unearned) favor.

Jesus is God's love for us in action.

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I'm so thankful that God provided a way for me to exchange my rotting, sinful flesh for an incorruptible, immortal body.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

God won't ignore my sin, but He did provide a way to remove it.

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

Blessings,

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13 comments:

  1. Beautiful post! I love how you presented the Gospel.

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  2. Inspiring post and lovely blog! You really know how to explain the Gospel. The flower really brings it all together.

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  3. indeed a very heart warming post. thanks for sharing and God bless your days and ways!

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  4. Oh wow - yes, I'm thankful for that too! I'm reading the Old Testament now too, and it definitely makes me grateful for Jesus.

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  5. What a strange flower! I'm glad your blog is not scratch n sniff!

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  6. Dear June,

    I've often thought about how many scripture verses we avoid because they are so harsh. Maybe Katie will challenge us to deliberately post a picture and a harsh verse one of these weeks. That could be interesting...

    Bravo to you for braving the barrier,
    Dawn

    PS Thanks for the information on the flower. I think my dog must have gotten in to one of those a couple of weeks back. Oh, soooo putrid!

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  7. What a great post! I'm SO thankful to be clothed in Christ's robe of righteousness...hidden in Him, free from my own filthiness and the stench of my sinfulness.

    What a Saviour! What amazing grace!
    ~Stacy

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  8. very nice. the analogy. not so much the rotting flesh. :)

    beautiful bloom indeed~

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  9. This flower somehow gives me the creeps. Anyway, I'm still amazed on how God created things so beautifully :)

    Thank you for visiting my site :)

    Biboy Fotograpiya
    Visit the Philippines. Filipino Photo Hobbyist.

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  10. What a lovely bloom but how sad about the smell! Great analogy you brought out...as they use to say in the country church..."now that'll preach!"

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  11. This is a great post! I think it is important to remember that our sin is that stinking, vile mess. But His grace is so much more powerful. His grace covers all that mess, and makes us into pure beauty! Thank God for His grace!

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  12. Thank you so much for this reminder. It seems like much of our secular society wants to view God of all accepting of everyone's views and their sins. People don't want to think of God disapproving of anything even sinful actions. We have to remember that even though God loves each of us that does not mean is loves or accepts our sinful actions. God can love us and still tell us that what we are doing is wrong.

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  13. WOW>. and thank you.. The photographs of the bloom are stunning.. Wish i could see it in person... But as I struggle in the dry place and tend to wander over to the "Woe is me" side of the path, You gave me the whiff of my putridness.... and I am offering the Grace that was extended to me to my family...

    Love ya

    Holly

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If you read something here that inspired you, I’d love to hear about it. Please know I appreciate every comment! Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings, June