Grace in point

4:20 p.m. Today's project was to make an arrangement with our credit union to pay off the deficit balance owed on the RV we surrendered in July. They had auctioned it off for less than half the balance. The representative was very helpful, and we compromised at much less per month than he would have asked for, but set up as an automatic withdrawal from our checking,

the modest amount is to everyone's benefit.

I'm reminded of Proverbs 20:14 that informs us about human nature during bargaining in the marketplace. The seller promotes his goods as the finest, and holds out for the highest price possible. Meanwhile, the buyer protests heartily that the item is very poor quality and overpriced, but finally agrees to the price with a sigh. After the transaction is over, the buyer has a good laugh and congratulates himself on his great bargain! We're not told, but I imagine the buyer is probably chuckling on the other end, too...

"It is good for nothing, " cries the buyer; but when he has gone his way, then he boasts."

So who won today? Both of us! I think both of us did what we could to accomodate the other, considering Steve's and my financial hardship. The agent could only go so low, since he answers to his manager; I honestly offered as much as I could, knowing that I answer to God! I have no idea whether the man knows the Lord, so my witness had to be above board, and will continue to be, through the power of the Holy Spirit! "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me," Paul states in Philippians 4:13 says. As followers of Christ, so can we!

An added benefit to the new arrangement is that the representative offered to remove any derogatory credit statements in regard to the voluntary surrender/repo! In other words, he'd "wipe the slate clean."

Finding a fair payment was justice--clearing up the credit consequences was grace!

All who give their lives to the Lord have moved from deserving justice for our lifetime of sin, to receiving grace, forgiveness through no goodness of our own, by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross--which met justice's demands and paid our "fine" in God the Father's eyes. God now sees us through His Son Jesus, holy and wholly His, not as the lowlife sinners we once were!

Now THAT'S a miracle --an contract that only God's grace could have negotiated--grace closed!!