All This from a Sleeve of Crackers...

(Preface: I am in the middle of writing cabin devotions for the campers and staff of next summer. So my brain is in the analogy and example mindset these days) For part of my lunch today, I had to open a sleeve of crackers. Now..I don't think I have ever opened a package of crackers, cookies or anything like that without breaking the first five in the sleeve. The more I think about it, anything requiring opening by me usually ends up in breakage or disablement of some kind. If the contents inside are unharmed...then the box or case it came in is usually mascaraed.  Especially when it comes to food, there is just no time! I just want to eat and tare into whatever it is. Cereal usually ends up decorating the room, and don't get me started on cd's. Those were the worst. The case would always crack because I'd use some foreign object (aka my teeth) to open the plastic. So, whats my deal? Most everything comes with instructions. Even Poptarts! It's not that I can't follow instructions..or that I'm stupid and can't open a package of crackers (haha well...). 
The real issue is I want to do everything my way...because I am inpatient, and I think it's ok as long as I get to the good stuff. The Lord must get so frustrated with me because that's how I can be with Him. He gives us instructions, even promises, but I tweak His way and make it obtainable for myself. But, that always ends in disaster..and some sort of mess for me to clean up. Sometimes we even see instruction as a nuisance. On a bigger scale, when He gives us laws like not having idols and committing adultry..or tells us not to let any substance consume our lives...any of those type of "instructions", He gives us with good reason. We all have seen the damage of what not living by those can cause....maybe directly or indirectly. NOW LET ME BE CLEAR...our salvation and who we are in Christ is NOT based on how we can keep laws or rules. In fact, those are there for us to see right from wrong...and so we can see our need for a Savior because of how incapable we are of being perfect. But..how much less messy would our lives be if we let the Lord's instruction guard our hearts. We don't have to be perfect...we have a Savior who has given us access to all we need to rely on. And better yet..He died so our messes can be made clean. Let's be joyful in that we have good instruction to keep us from coming out broken..and when we do break (and we will sometimes)..there is no condemnation, and we are made new.

All this from opening a sleeve of crackers. Yep.