Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, has decided that now that I am not off having adventures by chasing storms, warning people about the storm that is coming, and helping the people who are devastated by them, I should write about my Sunday School Class.  She wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

Easy was back home for a week.  He had some mechanical engineering classes to attend in person rather than using distance learning.  And he had to get his designs approved.  One of his projects is the new gate system at the County Line Farm, run by the Daltons and a few more Lily the Pink employees that enjoyed getting out of town and being around real trees instead of the fake trees in the Crystal Mountain.  The Daltons now have gates on both sides of the road and the activation of the electric fence set up depending on where the livestock is located, only llamas and goats for the moment.

But the great news, not that having my hubby back for a week isn’t wonderful news, but B.B. is back so we are back to our usual hair styling in the restroom between Gwen’s house and Pink’s office.  And Menzie was in there with us, getting pointers from B.B. on hair styling in a hurry.  B.B. even told her about making a news report that she made behind a news station style desk when she only had underwear on below the camera’s view.  No one at home would know and it was scorching hot that day.  I have no idea if I can believe that, but B.B. has only been a Christian for a little over a year.  She might have done that.

But the three of us now had a reason to laugh, thinking of Mary Sheltie, the virgin, who flashed everyone in the newsroom except the audience.

As we entered the room, Arabella retorted, “The only time it gets boring in the restroom is when I have to fill in.”  Mary (B.B.) leaned over to whisper that she would tell her later.

I started with a prayer and Emmett, Menzie, Samuel, Arabella, and Michael led us in At Calgary.  At least the chorus talked about Mercy and Grace, but I wondered if he would get to some modern worship songs.

I started.  “We have God’s Grace, and God’s Grace comes from God’s goodness.  We started off with God’s Love.  We then went to God’s Justice.  It made sense to go on to Mercy and now Grace, but we really need to discuss God’s goodness.  We will finish up with Grace this week, understanding that God’s goodness is necessary.  We’ll cover that next time.

For our first Scripture,

Sally Mae Driver (John 1:17): For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Arabella asked, “Isn’t that what I read last week?”

I replied, “Yes, Belle.  I think you read two verses, but we need to discuss the shift.  God’s Mercy and Grace were always there.  But with the perfect sacrifice given in Jesus, the law and Justice factor are not replaced by Mercy and Grace, but mercy and grace are at a more accessible and personal level.  Before the father could sacrifice an animal once each year, but that is gone.  Jesus died for us once and that one sacrifice took away the monthly and yearly sacrifices.  But look at all the times that the Israelites screwed up in the Old Testament.  We can talk about Long-Suffering at another time, but that showed God’s Mercy, over and over again.  But this verse shows that God’s goodness is within the structure of the Law.”

I groaned, “Okay, instead of reading Genesis 6:8 again.  Emmett and Joseph, lead us in the chorus that is that verse.”

Emmett and Joseph sang, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. That is the reason the Scriptures record.  Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

I continued, “So, we know Mercy was shown in the Old Testament, and Genesis 6:8 said that Grace was shown.  These are attributes of God, and God does not change.  But we see the focus on the Law in the Old Testament and hundreds of prophecies about Jesus who will come and change the way things are done.  But we know God does not change.  Moses finds Grace in God’s sight in Exodus 33.”

Emmett said, “I read that one last week, and the NIV said ‘pleased with’ instead of God’s Grace.”

Darrell Driver (John 14:6): “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I nodded, “The point here is that Grace is only obtained through Jesus.  Jesus is the only perfect person that is one hundred percent human and without sin.  Through no one else can we find Grace or Salvation that comes from Grace through faith.  That kind of twists Ephesians 2:8 a little, but it works that way.  And to mention Ephesians 2:9, we cannot boast about our salvation due to it was God doing it.  We did not earn it.  We cannot buy it.  It is all by Grace through faith, and even faith is a gift from God.”

Zuzka asked, “Is there anyone on earth that give Grace like God?”

I smiled, “No one is perfect like God, but in giving to people in need when they did not ask for the help and did not deserve the help, I can look no further than where we are right now.”

Zuzka asked, “What do you mean?  We are in Mom’s office.”

I nodded, “I know everyone says that it is Aunt Pink’s Zachaeus syndrome, paying back for the wrongs that her seed money to build all this has given her.  But consider that there are people in this room who were given a home, helped with college tuition, given free meals, all before they ever started working here so that it kind of made sense.  Aunt Pink could charge the going rental schedule, but she charges a fraction of that to the workers and nothing at all if you just live here and then go down to the mission for the day.  Sure, she has the money, and she still makes a profit, but she loves first, she gives undeserved gifts.”

Darrell added, “Then the love that she shows comes back to her in loyal employees who would do anything to pay her back for all her generosity.”

I nodded, “And when we decide that God’s will works better than what we can come up with, we end up loving God so much and finding out that we can never pay Him back either.  That is Grace people.  I am not lifting Aunt Pink up to the level of God, but she has taken what she has learned in the Bible, and she lives it.  And we should do the same.  In football, people focus on the Xs and the Os.  In business, they focus on the bottom line, the profit margin.  But as fellow Christians, we need to focus on the needs of the others in this room and then extend that to those we live with, work with, and meet along the way.  Grace is contagious once you understand that it is the way God is.”

Joseline (Ezekiel 37:3): “He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

Joseline asked, “What do dry bones have to do with God’s Grace?”

I smiled, “It is Ezekiel’s answer.  Only God knows.  God has the power to do anything in this universe, and He can do anything within us.  We must have faith, and we must be willing participants, and then God’s Grace, his giving of gifts which we did not earn, will come upon us within God’s Will.”

Easter, since you might not be here next week, (1 Peter 1:10-11): Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.

I said, “This ties the Old with the New Testament.  God’s Grace was always part of the plan, and we have our relationship with Jesus Christ that assures us of those blessings from God.  What will those blessings be?  Only God knows, but those blessings will be wonderful.”

Lauren toddled over from the play area.  She turned to Menzie, “Mommie, I heard a bus honk.  Are we late?  I don’t want to miss Sunny School.  My teacher says she is bringing cookies.”

I said, “Well, I cannot compete with cookies.  Next week, we will be studying God’s goodness.  Let’s finish with the Aaronic benediction.  Everyone bow your heads in prayer.  ‘“‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’”’” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Arabella asked, “Did you say the ironic benediction?”

I shook my head, “Aaronic, as in Moses’ older brother Aaron, the high priest, who was the one commanded by God to say this blessing over the people.  Now, our text notifications did not work today for some reason, but do not run to the buses.  We still have time.”

As I sat alone on the bus going to my father’s church, Joseph asked if he could sit with me.  I was kind of shocked since his wife was just back from a storm chase.

Joseph took my hand. “Stinker, Jemima, you did a great job today.  We have a diverse class.  We have the unchurched and the churched.  Angus and Jochebed were not born in the USA.  We have some that I do not think have made that commitment to Christ.  The age range is from thirteen to the 40s.  You are going to have days when the class is nothing but one big interruption.  But you are getting more comfortable at being the teacher.  Thank you.  And one more thing, you did a great job of picking a benediction that uses the word gracious.”

I snickered, “That was God picking that out.  I just panicked and thought of something short.”

Credits

I am using suggested Bible verses from The Attributes of God, A Journey into the Father’s Heart by A.W. Tozer, in two volumes.  My two volumes have a Study Guide by David E. Fessenden, which is designed for each chapter of Tozer’s book.  I may review those chapters to keep Stinker from straying too much, but the nature of her class is that the class tends to stray anyway.  I am not using Rev. Tozer’s comments directly.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.