I wonder what these crayons were doing an hour before this picture was taken. Were they just resting inside of a dark, dusty, old box on a shelf at Target? Do you think those colorful crayons would ever guessed that very soon some external force, a powerful force outside of their self, was about to intrude in their life in a powerful way? In fact, so powerful that these simple crayons would never be what they once were again. Life as they knew it was over. Something powerful was about to transform these crayons; so much so they could NEVER be the same again!

When I examine the lives of so many in the Bible who have had a true encounter with the Triune God, I see them as one of these crayons. No they don’t write in cool colors, but their lives were impacted by such a powerful external force that they couldn’t ever be the same again. They were all together different.

I think of Peter. One day he says he doesn’t even know Jesus, then a few pages over he is willing to die for this same Jesus. What happened? One day Matthew is collecting taxes, and then then later that same day he is inviting everyone to his house to tell them about this guy named Jesus he met. Why? How about John, a fisherman from a well-to-do family, with a flight temper who leaves it all behind (including his temper) to follow Jesus. His life forever changed. FOREVER. CHANGED. Then you have Paul. Just making an afternoon trip to Damascus. Little did he know that trip would change his life forever. FOREVER.

Normal people. Living normal lives. Impacted by a supernatural God when they least expected it. Wow!!!

Their lives turned inside out because of a supernatural, external God! Their lives would never be the same.

Be reminded of that today. God is powerful. He changes you in such a way that once you encounter Him, you can NEVER be the old you again. It’s impossible. You are changed. (The Bible says you’re a new creation!)

This thought keeps me up at night. It still blows me away. The fact that this powerful, loving, awesome, Triune God, would decide to come into this old, dusty crayon box and change me forever. Why me? Why not lots of other people who need God? Why not a “nicer” person? A “richer” person? A more “gifted” person? Why Rick?

Why you?

I can’t explain it, but it blows me away – every second of the day. I can’t get my mind off of it. I can’t stop thinking about it. It consumes me.

Grace.

Grace.

Grace.

Grace.

Grace.