Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Seeing God in the ordinary

Everyday we see things that appear ordinary.  They are so common I would say the majority of them become the wallpaper in the background we just don't even notice anymore.  But every now and again, you see something with fresh eyes, through God's eyes, and what He's trying to get you to understand.

As I sat here at my dining room table, I glanced to my right and saw a folded paper in my sorter that at the top reads:  Summary of your claim.  It's an explanation of benefits from our dental insurance detailing the first portion of our son's orthodontic treatment.

Most insurance claims have 3 parts:  what the claim was, what you are covered for, and what you owe for using it.  They outline in detail what you had done, what your plan determines is the insurer's responsibility to take care of, and if you have any expenses to pay for the benefit used beyond what you paid up-front.  Very common and most of us see at least a handful a year.

Can you imagine what it would be like to get a claim summary from God with a detailed explanation of benefits attached, and what you owe written at the bottom?  I imagine it might look like this.

Claim Summary:

Date of Service  2/1/2017

Service performed:  Prayers heard

Explanation of Benefit:  1 John 5:14  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

You may owe:  Nothing

The part that stands out to me is 'the part that you may owe' where it would read ~ nothing.  There is no co-pay, deductible, or out of pocket maximum to reach.  There are no lifetime maximum benefit caps.  We have unlimited access to the greatest health care we will ever know.  And we were given this coverage from someone who paid for it on our behalf.

While it may seem tedious to do this, I want to give you a two-part challenge.  First, take a look at your life, and write up a few Explanations of Benefits from God over the next few days.  And everytime you write the word "nothing" for what you owe, take a minute to really digest what that means and why it is that way.  Second, focus on what is going on that requires strength, resources, or abilities that you just don't have in you.  And then confidently walk into The Great Physician's office for a check up.  Tell Him every symptom and every concern.  Ask Him for a prescription, plan of care, and follow up appointment.  And when you are better, use what made you healthier to help someone else get healthier, too.

Father, we can never repay You for all that You have done and continue to do for us.  Help us to remember that more than anything, You want us to come to You with our weaknesses, sicknesses, and difficulties, because when You make us healthy, we can be Your hands and feet to help heal others.  We pray these things in the restoring name of Jesus, amen.



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