In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.” Ephesians 1:8
More is better. I know, I know…that is a flawed philosophy because sometimes more is just more but often…more is better. I am a foodie. I like food and food likes me. To me food is more than nourishment…food is like a warm blanket on a cold night and because of that I sometimes ask for…more. When my wife Judy and I were much younger for a special treat we would go to Shoney’s for supper. It didn’t happen often, not because we didn’t like it but because our very limited budget said no. On an even rarer occasion we would get desert…either strawberry pie or chocolate ice cream cake. When the choice was the latter, I would ask the serve to “smother” it with extra hot fudge and usually, they would. The cake would come baptized in hot fudge. Can someone say, “Amen?”
More can indeed be better. I’ve never been too shy about asking for more. One time I was at our local restaurant. We were and are regulars there and whenever I ordered something that had french fries, I would ask them to be sure and add a few extra. I know, my Momma surely taught me better and Judy was mortified but I did it and it worked. My plate would come and sure enough…there were french fries enough to feed half the kids in Africa. I would then douse them with ketchup and well, it was good. More can be better.
On one particular visit I decided to change my approach, so I asked the server for a “boat load” of french fries. I wasn’t sure how much a “boat load” was but I was sure it was more and yes; more can be better. Well, it worked and once again my BBQ sandwich was accompanied with what had to be a five-pound bag of french fries. As we finished our meal, our server brought our ticket by. Now, I’m one of those people who don’t normally even look at the ticket…I just assume it is right. But this day I did…and I was glad.
No, the amount wasn’t wrong but what she wrote was hilarious. She was probably not familiar with my southern humor or word pictures because she didn’t write “boat load,” she had written, wait for it, “bloat load.” Even now as I write this a smile creeps across my face because it was both accurate and funny. I am sure by the time I finished off the enormous pile of fried potatoes, I was most certainly, “bloated.” Wrong word—right message! And yes, sometimes more is better.
I know that is true with God. In my Jesus journey, I have discovered that He is a “bloat load” God. Mercy…bloat load. Kindness…bloat load. Love…bloat load. Patience…bloat load. Grace…mega bloat load. In fact, I like the way Paul, one of the big players in the New Testament part of the Bible put it. He said, “In Him [that’s Jesus] we have redemption [that’s rescue from our hot mess sin] through His blood [that’s the cross], the forgiveness [that means charges dropped] of our trespasses, according to the riches [that means a lot] of His grace, which He lavished [that means “bloat load”] upon us.” Wow. Now that is good news.
I thought it was always cool when the server accommodated my “more is better” request. At the minimum they didn’t scorn me and at the most…well I received more and as you know…more can be better. But nothing matches God. The only place that God is a little stingy is in the wrath department. Oh, He is just, and He is holy, but His preference is that each of us, all of us, come to Him and receive His grace. After all, He did say He loved the whole world and after all He send His Son to die for that world on a Roman cross. Can someone say, “bloat load?”
So, more can be better…especially if it involves hot fudge and french fries. Oh, and more is always better when it involves the mercy, kindness, love, patience, and grace of my Dearest Father. He wants you to be able to call Him Father also…just ask and He will lavish His great grace all over you and call you His own. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 