That’s My Rain You’re Getting

That rain you’re getting is thanks to me. After several weeks of 100+ temperatures and sunny skies, God finally heard my pleas and sent me some rain. I’ll take some time to thank Him in a minute, but first… Hey, wait a minute! Is that rain I see over at my neighbor’s house? That should not be. I happen to know he didn’t ask God for any, and he will not say thank you either to God or to me, for being a Christian neighbor whose gift from God is spilling onto his lawn. Why would God give rain to that guy? Come to think of it, why would he give any to me? I haven’t been especially lovable of late.  

The good news is that God’s gifts, like rain, love, food, clothing, and salvation, began arriving when I was still in full rebellion. As Romans 8:8 tells us, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Did you get that “while we were still sinners” part? Who does that? “Come see me when you’ve cleaned up your act,” that’s what I’d tell them. But that’s not God’s way. His gifts come first.

Now notice what comes next: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” In other words, the gifts just keep on coming. What is this, Christmas? Oh, yeah, it kind of is.