Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

April 18th, 2008

 

"Is That Enough"

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV).

Max Lucado tells a wonderful story about a pilot on a chartered flight with about a half-dozen other folks flying across the country. All of a sudden the engine bursts into flames, and the pilot rushes out of the cockpit. “We're going to crash!" he yells. "We've got to bail out!" He passes out parachutes, gives us a few pointers, and we form a line as he throws open the door. The first passenger steps up to the door and shouts over the wind, "Could I make a request?" "Sure, what is it?" "Any way I could get a pink parachute?" The pilot shakes his head in disbelief. "Isn't it enough that I gave you a parachute at all?" And so the first passenger jumps. The second steps to the door. "I'm wondering if there is any way you could ensure that I won't get nauseated during the fall?" "No, but I can ensure that you will have a parachute for the fall." Each of us comes with a request and receives a parachute. "Please, captain," says one, "I am afraid of heights. Would you remove my fear?" The pilot gently shoves the fellow out the door. One passenger wants some goggles, another wants boots, another wants to wait until the plane is closer to the ground. "You people don't understand," the pilot shouts as he helps us, one by one. "I've given you a parachute; that is enough."

Doesn’t that describe how we are sometimes when we pray? Only one item is necessary for the jump, and he provides it. The gift is adequate. But are we content? No. We are restless, anxious, even demanding. You see, from heaven's perspective, grace is enough. If God did nothing more than save us from hell, could anyone complain? If God saved our souls and then left us to spend our lives leprosy-struck on a deserted island, would He be unjust? Having been given eternal life, dare we grumble at an aching body? Having been given heavenly riches, dare we bemoan earthly poverty? Let me be quick to add, God has not left you with "just salvation." If you have eyes to read these words, hands to hold this magazine, the means to own it, He has already given you grace upon grace. The vast majority of us have been saved and then blessed even more!

I know this sounds harsh, as if God were some miserly despot who doesn’t care about his charges. Nothing is further from the truth than that! God is a gracious Father who will give good gifts to his children. Our problem often is that we are not satisfied with the gift. I know this raises the question of unanswered prayer (like Paul’s “thorn”). Like Paul, however, let me remind you that the power is in the message, not the messenger. For all we don't know about thorns, we can be sure of this. God would rather we have an occasional limp than a perpetual strut. And if it takes a thorn for Him to make His point, He loves us enough not to pluck it out. God has every right to say no to us. We have every reason to say thanks to Him. The parachute is strong, and the landing will be safe. His grace is sufficient.