"Of Batteries and Propane"

I paid my way through seminary by working in a Sears warehouse in Denver. From time to time my responsibilities required me to drive a forklift or other machinery to move heavy merchandise. Of the dozen or so pieces of equipment available, some were powered by batteries and others by propane. At the end of the work day the battery vehicles were plugged in to be recharged overnight and those using propane were parked with the tanks turned off. With the daily restoration the “batteried” machines kept going and going and…(you get the idea) while the “propaned” ones sometimes ran out of fuel in the middle of a job. You can imagine how frustrating that could be!

What a great picture of God’s grace! Without daily renewal His grace and strength can be depleted until they run out (just like the propane vehicles), but as we come to Him for help each day we receive what we need for that day (a la the battery-powered ones). In Hebrews 4:16 God gives us this invitation: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” God’s grace can’t be stockpiled any more than time can be so we must continually ask. Will we get it? Listen to Jesus: “Ask and it will be given to you….” (Matthew 7:7).

A college girlfriend (about whom Karen knows) once told me, “You can’t count on yesterday’s strength and victory for today.” She was right! Even as godly a man as Daniel felt the need to pray three times daily (see Daniel 6:10) and in that strength he went into the lions’ den confident of God’s presence and help. Those same resources are available to you and me. May we follow God’s counsel in Proverbs 8:34: “Blessed (are those) who listen to me, watching daily at my doors….”

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan