NO TWO ALIKE

We have all heard through the years that every snowflake is unique. Not sure if the science is all there, but supposedly, no two snowflakes are alike.

And so, we also, are unique. No two of us are alike. Even with twins, triplets, and so on, there are unique characteristics to each one. God, the Creator, is infinitely creative is what He has designed.

I spent a little time the other day thinking of how different we all are.

If the weather is nice, I sit on my front porch and have my coffee and devotional time. I live on a dead-end street, so there’s not a lot of traffic, and it’s the same cars every morning. About 8:30 each morning, a beat-up old jeep comes flying up from the bottom of the hill, and the rather beat-up lady driving it takes a long drag on her cigarette just as she comes by my house. She hangs half-way out the window, the smoke from her cigarette pours out of her car and follows her up the road.

Ten minutes later, my neighbor gingerly backs her car out of the driveway and with her hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2, she putt-putts up the road; her over-sized, wrap-around sunglasses protecting her from the harmful rays of the sun.

RULES OR NO RULES?

My youngest daughter is a rule follower. She smart and accomplished and I’m sure her dedication to doing it the way the directions say is one of the reasons why she is so successful. When she makes mac n’ cheese, the directions say to boil the macaroni for 8 minutes. So, she sets the timer and boils the macaroni for 8 minutes.

My husband, on the other hand, who is always trying to do 5 things at once, puts the pasta on the stove to boil, goes into the living room to read or watch TV, falls asleep instead, and nearly burns the house down, on a pretty regular basis.

We are all so vastly different! We all know people who can’t break a rule and people who can’t follow them, and every step in between. We know the good, bad and ugly. Smart and stupid. Lives filled with great success stories and lives that are train-wrecks.

AND GOD LOVES EACH ONE EQUALLY!

The society that we live in is task driven. It rewards the good and punishes the bad. For the most part this is a good thing. We need the rules and the rewards, otherwise we would have anarchy and chaos.

But mankind has greater needs, much deeper needs. Needs that only God Himself can fulfill. Mankind needs forgiveness, mercy and grace -- all attributes of a loving God.

The Bible says: Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 4:34-35, NIV)

The circumstances of your life, a lot of which you may have no control over, cannot keep you from being loved and accepted by God. God does not see the things that we see, the things that separate us from each other. God is not influenced by ageism, sexism, racism – there are no ‘isms’ in God’s mind.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

God’s love, which encapsulates mercy, forgiveness, grace, and loving-kindness, is available to ALL of us here on Earth. The only requirement? You must receive it. That’s it.

I have said this before, but I believe it is worth repeating. No race, color, gender, economic status, or education level can deter God’s love towards you. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, NIV)

If you drive like an old lady or a maniac, break every rule or follow them, it doesn’t matter. You are invited to the table of grace where God lavishes His great love on those who sit there. There is a chair for you. Don’t miss it!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, please take the time to ask Him, this moment, to come and live in your heart. Your sins are forgiven by the blood He shed on the cross. Find time to read the Bible, it is God’s love letter to His children. It holds the Words of Life.