January 05, 2007

The Current Beneath Us

1 Kings 15:1-8

He committed all the sins his father had done before him... Nevertheless ... 1 Kings 15:3-4

— 

Abijah, Rehoboam's son, was a sinful king. He became king of Judah while Jeroboam was still king "up north," and Abijah "committed all the sins his father had done before him."

The amazing thing is that God didn't just strike Abijah with a bolt of lighting and finish him off. Instead God kept Abijah going for a while--"for David's sake." (See also 2 Samuel 7.)

The same is true with us. I don't know about you, but I can safely admit that I sin many times every day. I can even, in the way some people can juggle, commit more than one sin at once. Why should God let me live?

Nevertheless, I am alive each day. God keeps me going, and he even promises to bless me eternally--for Jesus' sake.

That reminds me of something strange going on in our neighborhood. My friend, an electrician, discovered that we have three volts of electric current in the earth around our house--in fact, it's in the ground throughout our whole neighborhood. There's a current of power underfoot, in the earth.

Christians live and move around each day on an undercurrent of God's grace. Everywhere we go, we stand on grace, through Christ's death on the cross, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Shocking, isn't it?

Thank you, Father, for your daily mercies and for your grace in letting us live. Guide us, Lord, by the power of your Spirit in all we say and do. For Jesus' sake, Amen.

About the author — Keith Mannes

Keith Mannes serves as pastor at Highland Christian Reformed Church in McBain, Michigan. Keith and his wife, Alicia, recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary,
and they are thankful for their three children—Eben, Charis, and Breanna.

Start your day with quick daily devotions.

See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!