Greetings to you in the name of the One who can make things happen, “The I Am”, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! Another beautiful morning in the neighbourhood…isn’t God good? Has God surprised you this week in ways that only make sense to you?Has God brought people into your daily schedule that have encouraged you or challenged you or inspired you? Has God blessed you in the simplest way…and you forgot to say “thank you”? Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to make Himself known to you in a very personal and undeniable way.
Recently I found myself reading through one of my favourite New Testament chapters – Luke 15, the “lost and found” chapter. It seems that every time I spend time in that chapter, God reveals a facet of insight to his character. If you will recall the story of the lost son and how the young man came to his senses. He said to himself – “I’ll go back home, hopefully patch up the relationship, and ask for a position in the business as a servant.” He, of course does only the first two of those things. He doesn’t ask for a job. Traditionally we have taught that he didn’t get a chance because his father made an interruptive response. However, what if the son was so overcome by the reality of what was happening, was so filled with inner peace-joy-awe…knowing that he didn’t deserve even to be there, that he could not or would not ask. It was enough for him at that moment to simply be accepted and forgiven and secure in his father’s presence.
And the father, understanding – sensing the sacredness of this moment responds by ‘giving’ what was necessary – the symbols of belonging…the best robe, the ring, the sandals, and a party. Isn’t that what God, our Father, does for us? He waits for us to “come” to him without an agenda, so that He can give us what we need – the best robe of righteousness, the sandals of freedom from sin’s slavery, the ring of the Holy Spirit who ‘seals’ our membership in the family, and a party of feasting at His banqueting table in the presence of our enemies…all that had separated me from being at home with Father.
It seems to me that God the Father desires our presence, that He delights in our vulnerability and our wanting to be at peace and pleased and in awe of who He is. I am wondering if that is what pleased God about King David’s ‘sitting before God” (2 Samuel 7:18) that God would allow David to be called “a man after God’s heart” – not a man after God’ gifts and benefits, not a man after position and power. I wonder if we practise our ‘lines’ – what we are going to ask for and how we are going to phrase it – before we come to him. I wonder if we need some practise…sitting before God, seeking His face. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple….My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Psalm 27:4, 8 NIV.
Something to consider…be blessed!