The “already” and the “not yet.”

I’ve also been preparing myself for Christmas (and yes it is only October) by reading The Dawning of Indestructible Joy by John Piper. This is my 2nd time through. I’m also reading Tripp’s Christmas devotion O Come Let Us Adore Him. This is my 4th time through (3 times last year). Piper writes about how Christmas cut history into 2 ages: the age of promise and the age of fulfillment. He went on to write about-you guessed it-the “already” and the “not yet.” He took a different approach but they both come to virtually the same conclusion: “Grace is worth it. Grace is what it’s all about. Grace helps us see God more clearly. In fact, His existence, character, and plan make grace such a valuable commodity.

I struggle in the “now,” in the “already.” I have the “not yet” to look forward to. I tend to look for fulfillment here-on persons, places, or things. When I do I need to remember I have a Heavenly Father who love me with incredible love; shows me incredible grace; forgives me with incredible understanding; puts us with me with incredible patience; deals with me with incredible kindness; and shows me on a daily basis His incredible provision. All while knowing I’m an incredible scoundrel in need of that incredible love and grace.

“Father, let me not forget. I live between the “already” and the ‘not yet’ It is a constant battle to keep that in perspective. As I live I must trust you for the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet.’ Help me to trust.”