In one of the four books I’m currently reading, I found these two quotes that I like. The author calls them, God’s grammar rules. I call them good.

Quote #1: “Never put a period where God puts a comma.”[i]

In the account of Lazarus’ death (John 11:1-44), Jesus waited before going to Bethany. He had heard Lazarus was ill. He had heard the cries of Mary and Martha. He knew all it would take were a few words or even a thought and Lazarus would be healed.

But Jesus waited.

Mary and Martha thought the period had been placed at the end of Lazarus’ life. But Jesus had a different plan. A plan that would allow Mary and Martha’s faith to reach enormous heights. A plan that would bring healing to a man who was indeed dead. A plan that would point others to God.

That’s exactly what God has in mind for us. When we believe we can’t go one step further and that God has placed the period at the end of our request, He might just surprise us with an amazing twist.

Our faith will be put to the test and in the end, our faith will soar. And ultimately, each situation must point others to God. God must be glorified.

The important thing to keep in mind is that God’s timing is not our timing. Be patient. Allow God to do His work in you. In His time, He will make it all beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Quote #2: “Don’t put a comma where God puts a period.”

God has a plan. His plan includes following the guidelines He has given us in Scripture. I find myself being drawn to the things of this world that God has told me to leave be. And that’s when I should be smart enough to recognize God’s periods.

But like the Apostle Paul, I find myself doing what I shouldn’t do. Recall with me Paul’s words. “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:14-15 – NIV)

God has placed a period at the end of His guidelines. But we tend to want to push it just a bit further. We want just a little more. And pretty soon, we have added a comma where God’s period once stood.

The difference between right and wrong, black and white, good and evil eventually will be blurred and gray. We miss the absolute in God’s precepts. We succumb to the temptation and fall into sin.

Thankfully God’s grace will forgive us for our punctuation mistakes. But we need to be more diligent in remembering His rules and guidelines and then following them to letter…or period.

As we go through our day, let’s look for the periods and commas God is revealing to us. And let’s also learn to recognize the difference between the two. It’s not enough to learn the rules, we must live them. We must apply them. And in the end, all glory must go to God.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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