by Kelly Moran
for 2 August 1995
As a result of the accident, a state police trooper said, "There are a lot of people in Island Falls and the surrounding communities who are very happy tonight."
Happy about a wreck? They're not morbidly thrilled at the destruction of the truck. The driver only suffered a minor head injury, but that's not what has the residents thrilled, either. They're happy because the misfortune that befell the truck driver resulted in some good fortune coming their way.
The truck was hauling 14,000 pounds of live lobsters. The refrigerated compartment holding the lobsters was demolished. Crates filled with lobsters littered the highway.
The owner of the truck had no facilities to handle $55,000 worth of lobsters, so he asked police to help him distribute live lobsters to all the residents of the town of Island Falls.
So, start the butter melting, we've got live lobster for dinner!
(The loss will be covered by insurance, according to the Associated Press.)
As an amateur cook (or a kitchen-meddler), I know that a lot of work goes into the planning of a good meal. You must plan the menu, pick up a few things at the store, chop, grate and puree, and more. (At least it sounds like I know what I'm doing.)
Even if you live in Maine, it's probably not very often that someone shows up at your door with a lobster dinner.
Not without a call to 1-800-LIVE-LOB.
Some of your planning may be of a Spiritual nature. We plan what we're going to do to develop our relationship with God. These plans, when put into practice, are called Spiritual Disciplines. We plan how we will serve God, and we plan how we will give to God. All this planning can be hard work.
God has a surprise for you. After all the Spiritual strategizing, God shows up at the door with a gift.
"Now when a man works," Paul wrote, "his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:4-5)
God doesn't extend his gift of grace based on the fact that we earned it. The people of Island Falls did nothing to earn their lobster dinner. It was a gift; an unexpected, un-merited gift.
If you bought a lobster at the store, you receive it as an obligation. You have, more or less, worked for it. It is no longer a gift.
To the one who trusts God, Paul continues, God's grace makes him righteous. Notice the verb, "credited," is something done to you, not by you.
One person plots and plans the way to work for God. He tries to earn God's mercy. The other person simply trusts. Paul says this is the one who is made right in the eyes of God.
God, purify my heart before You.
Published weekly for 3 years, 44 weeks.
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All Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (unless otherwise noted).
Copyright 1995 by Kelly Moran.