Gospel Tantrum

It always amazes me how vividly the Gospel message is displayed in everyday life with little ones.  I will be going along with my day and BAM! the Lord will show me in living color how much He loves each of us and sacrificed for us.  Take today...I was navigating my way through my 3-year-old's third tantrum (and it wasn't even 8:00 am yet) and she was in a wet, naked heap on the tile bathroom floor, crying that she was cold--and yet refusing the towel I was offering to her after she had stepped out of the warm shower.  I was at a loss--I tried to explain to her that if she dried off, she'd be warm OR if she would step back into the steamy shower water, she would be warm (I've heard it said that supplying options help in these situations...uh, not so much)...but she'd have NONE of it and she just continued to scream, her ear-piercing shrieks ricocheting throughout the tiny space.  I left the room, emotionally exhausted, trying to ignore her as I quickly dressed myself in the adjacent bedroom, frustrated at how pointless and senseless ALL her tantrums seem these days--her battle of wills she often chooses to fight to both of our detriments.  

Stubborn.  Stiff-necked.  Hard-headed.  Sinful. Rebellious. Senseless.  Ignorant.  Defiant.  

Suddenly, I turned and was compelled to reenter the bathroom, scoop her up in her fluffy, dry towel and carry her to her bedroom to get dressed and warm.  My throat caught as the Lord suddenly spoke directly into my soul--

THIS is the Gospel, displayed for you today, tired Mom, my Beloved.  In your sin, ignorance, outright rebellion and senselessness, I reentered the situation and rescued you, clothed you, covering your shame and nakedness, and redeemed you, claiming you as not only a daughter, but an heir to my Kingdom, because you are Mine, chosen before the foundation of the world.

This is the Gospel, full of grace, undeserved, unmerited favor.  How utterly transformative.  It explodes into my day with my willful preschooler.  I am undone.  I have no choice but to extend to her grace during this tantrum, and the next, that is bound to come on its heels.  I love only because He loved me.

Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

Ephesians 1:4-9  "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us^[b] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known^[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ"

Luke 15:21-22 "And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,^[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet." (parable of the lost son)

Revelations 7:9  ”After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands"

Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us"

Ezekiel 16:8-14  " When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.⁹ Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.^[a] 11 And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. ¹² And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. ¹⁴ And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.”