Many

Can you count the grains of sand on those adorable baby feet? Could you count the grains of sand on a beach? On all the beaches? In all the deserts? On our entire planet?

No.

The first question—the baby’s feet—would be more than most of us would have patience for. And, frankly, why would you even bother? Those chubby footsies help us make the point that there is a lot of sand on Earth. Scientists estimate that 65 million square miles of our planet is covered by sand—and that’s just surface area. 

The word “many” in the following scripture might make you think of sand.

“And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.”

— Romans 5:16, ESV

The “free gift” mentioned is eternal salvation. By grace you are saved through faith. God offers the free gift of salvation to all who confess their faith in His son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior.

People need God’s free gift because of our “many trespasses"—The Understatement of the Ages. Trespasses is another way to say “sins.” This scripture is contrasting God's one free gift with all human sin of all time. Humans beings are sin machines. We can not help but to break God’s law. We naturally do things our own way. Seven billion people inhabit our planet now. An estimated 108,000,000,0000— one hundred and eight billion!—have called Earth home throughout its existence.

The understated "many” doesn’t come close when counting all those sins. The actual number of all human sins of all times might be better described as countless or innumerable.

Yet no matter how many people, no matter how many sins, God offers salvation to ALL who ask.

How many times will we be awed by His free gift?

How many times will we be humbled by His infinite grace?

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior or would like to know more, then click here or contact me. And please share this post, comment, and subscribe.

Listening

“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”

— Psalm 81:11-12, ESV

"Agh! How could I do it again? That ugly, old habit. That slip of the tongue. That selfish impatience. That voice raised in anger. Why do I do that?"

Ever wish your life was like a recording artist in the studio? You'd have a producer listening closely, ready to instruct you how to sound better. And, of course, give you a chance for another take. Life would be easier if we got multiple takes.

"Sorry, the real me came out right there. I didn't want you to hear that. I'm not that mean. At least I don't think so. Or want you to think so. Take 2!" And you play it all over again with the nicer, edited you.

It's our preferences. Our expectations. Our pride. Our fear. Our selfishness. Even, let's be honest, our sinfulness that leads us into those ugly moments we wish we could edit out.

Psalm 81 tells us one reason we get ourselves in such trouble. When we are taken aback by the stubbornness of our hearts—that ugly, unbending self-will. When we taste the bile of our own foolish—those untrusting thoughts of God or the intentions of others. When we have those moments, Psalm 81 pins our shortcomings not on our circumstances, or the other guy, or Satan, but on us.

It is when we do not listen to God. It is when we are proud before God. When we do our own thing. When we disobey Him. This is when we get ourselves into trouble.

If only we would listen to Him. The Sovereign God of all who loves each of us as if there was only one of us. In Psalm 81, God recalls the good He has done for His people, He announces the blessings He will give even then to His people, if... If they will only listen and obey.

Maybe we need to turn off the distractions—social media, TV, the radio, smart phones. We need to open God's Word, humble ourselves, confess our sins, ask His forgiveness, and seek His will.

Imagine yourself putting on the headphones. Nothing but you and God. Hear Him. Obey Him.

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A Different Posture

All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them! ”— Luke 15:1-2

Jesus is teaching in a new place. His reputation proceeded him and crowds come. These people were labeled as "tax collectors and sinners." Despised, tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Romans within the taxation machine all the while extorting their own countrymen for unfair profits. All the rest who weren't in the Jewish ruling elite are simply called, "sinners." Unrighteous. 

That elite "the Pharisees and scribes" saw Jesus as their enemy, not as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets but as a destroyer thereof. They ruled others by oppressive layers of manmade laws covering the Law of God which they meticulously kept. Their rule keeping, works based righteousness is legend. Self-righteous.

We often miss the power of these two verses due to their company. They begin the chapter containing the iconic parable trio of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost (aka Prodigal) Son. Don't miss these verses, however. They contain two little words that teach us a big lesson.

The tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. The unrighteous were humble before Jesus. They saw their need of his message and salvation. Jesus was a man who welcomed, and ate with, sinners—those like them.

The Pharisees and scribes were complaining about Jesus. The self-righteous were arrogant before Jesus. They saw no need since they had it all figured out. Jesus was a man who welcomed, and ate with, sinners—those beneath them.

What is my posture before Jesus?

Should I adopt a different posture?