God Takes the Long View

Theresa Rosenthal had a rough start in life. She watched her father abuse her mother, and then when she was six, a family friend sexually abused her. Like so many that suffered at the hands of a predator, Theresa pushed the pain down into a secret place, and for decades, she battled with depression and substance abuse. Finally, one day she was sitting in front of her house and just blurted out to God, “What am I supposed to do?”

Within 24 hours, she had a Bible from a new friend who reached out to her, and even though some of Theresa’s bad choices would land her in jail, her friend and that Bible, were constant sources of healing. Today, she’s a member of a loving church, and she tells anyone who will listen about God's grace in her life. 

Daniel 4:2 says, “I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.” 

Too often we are too tribal. We think God only works in our circles, but the fact is, God has always been the definition of inclusive. The Bible makes it very clear that God’s grace is available to anyone in all times and places. 

Matthew 5:45 is a very interesting verse that illustrates this. It says, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” 

That’s fascinating. What might seem unusual or even unjust to us is routine for God. Because God takes the long view. He knows that our lives on Earth are brief. So, if he gives grace to a bad person, he’s thinking of that person’s eternal place. And let’s face it, there are plenty of times in our lives that we didn’t deserve grace. But he gave it anyway. 

In God’s economy, a Babylonian brickmaker from 3,000 years ago is as valuable as you are. Theresa Rosenthal was warmed by that grace at a time when she was doing drugs and spiraling into depression, and she had no ability to improve her life. And that’s the point of grace. God gives it to a variety of people and circumstances. And life would be unbearable without it. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, your grace sustains us, in bad times and in good times, and we might take our focus off you. Sometimes that grace is almost unseen. We might not be aware of it until years later when looking back gives us insight. Thank you for giving us what we don’t deserve. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Teresa Rosenthal had a rough start in life.
She watched her father abuseher mother and then, when she
was six, a family friendsexually abused her.
Like so many that suffered atthe hands of a predator, teresa
pushed the pain down into asecret place and for decades she
battled with depression andsubstance abuse.
Finally, one day she wassitting in front of her house

(00:23):
and just blurted out to God whatam I supposed to do?
Within 24 hours she had a Biblefrom a new friend who reached
out to her and, even though someof Teresa's bad choices would
land her in jail, her friend andthat Bible were constant
sources of healing.
Today she's a member of aloving church and she tells

(00:43):
anyone who will listen aboutGod's grace in her life.
Daniel 4.2 says Too often we'retoo tribal, we think God only
works in our circles, but thefact is God has always been the

(01:05):
definition of inclusive.
The Bible makes very clear thatGod's grace is available to
anyone, in all times and places.
Matthew 5.45 is a veryinteresting verse that
illustrates this.
It says that's fascinating.

(01:26):
What might seem unusual or evenunjust to us is routine for God
.
Because God takes the long view, he knows that our lives on
earth are brief.
So if he gives grace to a badperson, he's thinking of that
person's eternal place.
And, let's face it, there areplenty of times in our lives
that we didn't deserve grace,but he gave it anyway.

(01:48):
In God's economy, a Babylonianbrick maker from 3,000 years ago
is as valuable as you are.
Teresa Rosenthal was warmed bythat grace at a time she was
doing drugs and spiraling intodepression and she had no
ability to improve her life.
And that's the point of graceGod gives it to a variety of

(02:08):
people and circumstances, andlife would be unbearable without
it.
Let's pray Father.
God, your grace sustains us inbad times and in good times, and
we might take our focus off you.

(02:30):
Sometimes that grace is almostunseen.
We might not be aware of ituntil years later, when looking
back gives us insight.
Thank you for giving us what wedon't deserve.
In Jesus' name, amen.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
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