When we think of pros and cons, we might think of a piece of paper divided into two columns. On one side are all the reasons for doing something and on the other side are all the reasons for not doing it. Whichever side has the best reasons, we follow. Or as kids, we pulled the petals off flowers saying, he loves me, he loves me not. The last petal tells the answer. I had students who firmly believed that if they died while angry, for sure they would never go to heaven. Others think there might be an angel on each shoulder. One writes down our good deeds and one writes our bad. The longest list determines our fate in eternity. Maybe we think of God like Santa Claus, making a list and checking it twice, wanting to see who’s naughty and who’s nice.
Paul says it this way in Romans.
“31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. (Romans 8:31-34)”
Paul asks who can bring a charge against us for to do so is to say God is wrong as he is the one who justifies us as a gift, through faith and the cross. And also Jesus is standing with God, God incarnate who died for us and is interceding for us. Can we get our minds and hearts around this truth? We know that true friends stand with us when we are sick, when we are pregnant, when we have dementia, or when we can’t afford gifts. O’Henry wrote the beloved Christmas story of a man who sold his family pocket watch to buy combs for his wife’s beautiful hair. But she had sold her hair to buy him a gold chain for his watch. God stands for us while we were yet sinners and justifies and redeems us. Can you think of a time when a friend went out of their way to help you or surprised you with a special gift? Paul asks, who can condemn a gift of love from a person who loves you like that. Let’s thank God for his proactive love that “pays it forward.” Paul says there can be no con side on God’s list. He created, he incarnated, he wiped clean our debts and he waits for us to want relationship with him. Thank you, Lord.
On the Way to Wonder 