LET'S MAKE A DEAL

Do you remember watching Let's Make a Deal? Someone in the audience was given a few bucks and told they could keep it or exchange it for something in another pocket. Then they could trade that for something behind one of the doors. The exchanging went on until either they stopped or until they traded for the last door. Usually, by that time, they had traded something decent or really good for something like a -- goat.

We used to watch that show and even used it as a theme for Terri's birthday one year. It was fun to have her hold a package and then decide if she wanted to keep it or trade it. Would she go for a better deal? What would she end up with? Something really great or a gag gift? (Unlike real life, she got to keep them all but it sure was fun.)

Let's make a deal -- We play that with God all the time. "Lord, let the sevens line up on the slot machine. Let me win really big and I'll go home." "If you will show me a way out of debt, I will go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day." "Lord, I do not want to be sick. Please heal me and I will sin no more."

Do we try to make deals with God? Does God make deals with us?

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 2:15-17

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

AND NOW

Sounds like a deal to me. And the Lord God said, "Adam I have a deal for you. See all this. It's yours except for that one tree. You can keep it, don't eat from that tree and you live. You can eat from the tree, get kicked out of the garden and you die. Which deal do you want?" (Paraphrased by Mary)

Abram/Abraham also did pretty good in the deal department. The Lord appeared to Abram. "Abram, do you think you can be faithful now? No more of this having a baby with a maidservant because it is taking too long for Sara to conceive. Abram. Abram. You are just not going to believe what I have in store for you. No children of your own? Abram, I have chosen you to be the father of many nations. When people in the future check your family chart, they will find kings. You, Abram, will have more offspring than there are stars. How does that sound? Oh, and your name is now Abraham." (Paraphrased by Mary)

Need to point out something here. There is a difference between God "making a deal" and us "making a deal." "What is that difference?" you ask.

Would you walk away from the slot machine? Or would you put in just one more quarter, because who says you couldn't hit twice? Do you really think you can go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day? Or would there be a Sunday when you were too sick to go or a day when life steps in and you go to sleep before you get the Bible read? Would you give up all your sins? Or would you hold onto a few small ones? Would you? Could you?

What is the difference between God "making a deal" and us "making a deal?" Power! God has the power to keep his promises (deals). There is no would or could. God can and does. God has the Power! Admit it. We do not.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord, when I am tempted to make a deal with you, have the Holy Spirit put a big stop sign on my deal making. Instead, bring my Spirit in line with Your Will! Lord, let me never forget that your deals/promises/covenants are backed by the power to keep them. Amen