May 23, 2016
“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.” … Luke 15:20 The Message
Jesus described God as He is: The Father who came running after you when you were a long way off. Job describes the God he knew in his head and came to know in his heart. If He is the God who can lead Light and Darkness by the hand .. how much more will He lead you by the hand when you’ve wandered and wavered? David describes the God who led him through battles .. called him to be King .. and remained faithful to him after he tried to live outside of God’s sight: He is the One who knows you inside and out. He knows the real you .. with all of your parts sculpted from nothing into something. There is nothing you will do today that will be outside of God’s sight or Spirit. Nothing! He sees you when you’ve wandered off on your own strength .. maybe given up .. maybe giving in. And yet .. Jesus comes for you .. just as you were .. just as you are .. and just as you will be .. made whole in Christ. He is a heart-pounding God who “runs” after you before you ever see Him. He is the embracing God who swallows you up in all the dust and dirt on the outside and inside of your life. Heart-pounding .. Running .. Embracing .. Kissing .. is the image Jesus describes the Father seeking after the heart-wandering and the home-bittered. He will find you on the road or hiding behind a wounded heart. He’s not going to walk away or walk out on you. Jesus has made sure of that by becoming everything in you that runs away and everything in you that grows cold. You can’t stay the same when the Father comes running heart-pounding after you. It only takes a moment…
“Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives .. So you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost.” … “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? … You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.” Job 38:19-20 — Psalm 139:7,14 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to the Wandered and Welcomed following Jesus. (Kchesterp1@gmail.com)
