March 23, 2009
” ‘Father, I want now what’s coming to me.’ .. So the father divided the property between them. .. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:12, 20 The Message
God is … ?
.. a Heart-Pounding Father .. What do you really want from God? Really? … Do you really want what’s coming to you? Really? … If God gave you everything you really wanted … would you really be happy — fulfilled –satisfied? Really? The truth is: God really knows what you want. Our history is one continuous story of “getting” and wandering away. Our history is one continuous story of the Heart-Pounding Father running after us … embracing us … kissing us … and cleaning us up inside and out. Our history has been and will be one continuous story of our being a long way off … and God coming alongside us with “healing comfort” … and … bringing us alongside someone else who is going through a hard time. Jesus said that when we look at Him .. the Messiah .. we would see what the Heart-Pounding Father looked like. Really! When was the last time that you saw someone a “long way off” and without hesitation “ran” after them and embraced them, kissed them, and celebrated them? It is to be our continuous story: the Heart-Pounding Father runs after us .. and we run after others with the Heart of the Father. Just to be sure we understand: Jesus let His heart be Cross-Pounded for you. Really! Do you have a moment to today to let the Father embrace you .. kiss you .. and comfort you? It only takes a moment … a heart-pounding moment…
“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing comfort. He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Long Way Off Embraced Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
