Monday, November 7th, 2011
In the well-known parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15:20 says “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”.
Like many parents, we are close to our kids–we miss them when they are out of town or we can’t talk to them regularly. Each fall, our eldest son is a guide in remote Northern BC and Yukon for 3 months and our only contact is an infrequent and raspy call on satellite phone. My heart goes out to parents who don’t get to see their kids for years and are sometimes separated by oceans or continents.
The longing to see our son increases as the months go on and we begin to do things in our household like:
- Leave his last message on the answering machine just to hear his voice.
- Answer every phone call on the first ring, even if it might be one of those pesky telemarketers.
The tension builds till the day our son comes home…..then, at the first tinkle of the metal latch on the front gate, our house is instantly vacated as we all head for the driveway.
The scripture says “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him”.
I am convinced the father was looking out the window for even a glimpse of his son coming down the road. I wonder how many times did he drop what he was doing just to look down that road? A thousand times? Maybe more?
I wonder if God listens to his answering machine, just to hear your voice again? Is He looking down the road for you? I do know that God actually will see your very first step on your road back to Him. He is looking for it; He is waiting for it.
…even a baby step.
And God, your Father will run to you, wrap His arms around you and kiss you. There is an old saying that “when we take one step towards God, He takes two”. It is true.
Take a step today.
Posted in Christianity, God's Love, Jesus, Love | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
A few Sundays ago in the worship service, we sang the words:
Majesty, majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in your hands
(Majesty – Here I Am by Martin Smith)
I repeated each word one by one.
I came to know Jesus as my Saviour about 22 years ago and I was a little like the prodigal son… no, actually a lot like the prodigal son. I caroused with the world till I had more than my fill and yet, God reached down from heaven and touched my life.
I remember the first time at church, sitting in nearly the back row – I think someone had already scooped the very back row seats. As a new baby Christian, I was overwhelmed with the joy that I was now heaven bound and that God was for me, not against me. I knew deep down that it was God who did it all for me; I did nothing aside from accepting His love and forgiveness.
I brought nothing to the table; it was like I was paying for an around-the-world cruise with pocket lint… I was empty handed and yet Jesus gave it all for me…
On Sunday morning, I thought to myself, “It has been a long time since I felt this way.”
I came into the kingdom as the prodigal son (See Luke 15), empty handed and full of gratitude for a Father God who came running to me and hugged me (verse 20). Someone coined the phrase “an attitude of gratitude” and that surely was me. You couldn’t keep me out of church. I had a whole new family – I remember the first time a man called me “brother” and I thought, I really am his brother.
Sin began to fall from my life and then, for some reason unknown to me, I slowly began to take on a new attitude. Somehow, some of the gratitude was ebbing away and I now had expectations for God and “my rights”. It was as if I had paid for a piece of heaven with my own blood. My serving God joyously and being obedient to His Word had become “slaving and never disobeying orders” (verse 29) and in crept a little arrogance and judgmentalism. I was becoming the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son.
But, as the song says, we are “Empty handed but alive in Your hands”. We are indeed empty handed. He paid it all.
Remind yourself today, as I remind myself, that your Heavenly Father looked for you, as the scripture says; He saw you “when you were a long way off… He ran to you… He threw His arms around you and kissed you…” And don’t be the elder brother.
Posted in Christianity, Community, God's Love, Jesus, Love | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Last Friday morning after driving my kids to work & school I enjoyed a delicious hot cup of home-brewed coffee in front of a toasty crackling fire together with my wife. We talked and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as we reveled in the fire’s warmth and the tranquility of the early morning alone together.
I’m always amazed and so happy that my wife loves me so much. I’m so far from perfect yet my wife loves me in spite of my flaws and mistakes. My mishandlings of her tender emotions at times or misunderstanding or somehow forgetting her needs. My impatience, my moods….I could go on and on. Now without sounding arrogant, I do believe I must possess a certain amount of quality characteristic that she loves and that makes her feel wonderful & loved but, I fail often and suffer from inconsistency. The most amazing thing is that she loves me in spite of my lack. That’s unconditional love!
It’s awesome when people love us unconditionally, but what is even more awesome is that God our Father loves us absolutely and totally with an unconditional love. So much so, that He pursues a relationship with us that is only subject to our agreement and willingness to interact with Him. You see, He wants you not for what you can give Him but for what He can give you. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Now it’s up to us to respond to His love. It’s not forced nor is it illusive. His invitation to you says, “Come to me all you who are week and feeling burdened…I will give you rest.”
He knows you and loves you as if you were the only person on the earth. You are the apple of His eye! So if you are feeling like you have to measure up or be more lovable to qualify for His love, forget it. He accepts you as you are, freely and without reserve in spite of your inconsistencies and failings. He doesn’t base his love for you on your good performance either. You can’t earn His love. He’s bigger than that. You don’t want religion nor does he. He wants a relationship with you! He loves unconditionally and He is God…not a human being.
Posted in Christianity, Church Life, Community, God's Love, Love, Relationships, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »