B E H O L D

Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian denominations? Can’t God write an easier to understand book? If the Bible is the authoritative, inerrant and inspired Word of God how on earth do we all arrive at so many interpretations? What’s worse is that the people within each denomination each believe they have the “correct” interpretation, so we all separate ourselves from the others in order to not let any “false” doctrine creep in. We each believe we have it all figured out (or at least we believe our pastor does and we really “like” him) so we box ourselves into a building and label it “Lutheran” or “Catholic” or “Baptist” or “Methodist”. Or, if we don’t want our particular label to hinder any newcomers we will get ‘seeker friendly’ and swap out our “Baptist Church” sign with a “Community Church” sign while holding to the same doctrinal exclusivity. 

But if we really believe we built our tree-fort on the correct branch, what are we so afraid of? Do we really need to agree on everything in order to get along? If two people who confess Jesus Christ as Lord disagree on the meaning of God’s sovereignty is it really time to build a separate building? What happened to us? What happened to “Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged” (1 Cor. 13:4-5)? Somewhere along the line we started believing that salvation is about correct doctrine rather than being reconciled and restored to the God of love. Somewhere along the line we started worshiping the “Father, Son & Holy Bible" (my interpretation, of course) instead of worshipping the “Father, Son & Holy Spirit.”

There’s a peculiar story in the book of Genesis about Jacob working for his deceitful father-in-law, Laban. Jacob had worked for Laban for many years and had been cheated by him over and over again. Jacob wanted to get away from him and start his own family somewhere else, so he made a deal with Laban for a portion of the flocks to be given to him for his many years of work. This would allow him to leave and start a new life with something of his own. They agreed that Jacob would take all the spotted and speckled sheep and goats as his wages. Laban agreed to the terms, knowing that spotted and speckled lambs were considered flawed. This is when the story gets really weird:

“Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.” – Genesis 30:37-39

As the animals came to drink, they would see spotted, speckled and streaked branches at their watering holes, which also happened to be their breeding ground. As they came to the water, drank and bred, they did so while looking upon the spotted branches. The result was that they reproduced spotted and speckled offspring. And it was all because of what they saw when they came to the water.

We read that the Word of God is referred to as “water” in the Bible (see Eph. 5:25-27; Heb. 10:22). Not only that, but the Word of God is also referred to as a “mirror” (see James 1:23).  What’s even more interesting is that way back in the book of Exodus the Israelites were commanded to make the washbasin for the Temple out of “bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle” (Ex. 38:8). The Word of God cleanses us in much the same way as the washbasin made of mirrors cleansed the Old Testament priests before they went into the presence of the Lord. They were to examine themselves in the mirror and then cleanse themselves of what they "brought along".

So, we see that the Word of God is like cleansing water which reflects and reproduces what we bring to it. When we come to the watering trough of God’s Word, we will reproduce what we see. Not only that, but whatever our heart is set on when we come to the Bible is what we see in the Bible. 

As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. – Proverbs 27:19

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23

The Bible will reproduce whatever is in our hearts when we come to it. Are we coming to the watering trough with too much "baggage" - with our minds made up about a particular doctrine or way of thinking? If so, the Bible will reflect it back to us and reproduce more of what we see. This will do nothing more than convince us to continue justifying our own “interpretation” – to draw even deeper lines of separation between us and others. This is the “knowledge which puffs up instead of builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1).

Or, are we coming to the watering trough with a humble, open and hungry heart? If so, we are a soft piece of clay in the hands of the Potter – a blank canvas for the Holy Spirit to splash with revelatory color and a kind of “knowing” which isn’t about doctrine, but about a Person. Love Himself.

So, getting back to this issue of all the denominations. I believe the story about the spotted & speckled sheep teaches us that we should concern ourselves less with bringing interpretive methods and doctrines to the Bible and concern ourselves more with the attitude of our hearts when we come to the Bible – the watering trough made of mirrors. What we bring to the Bible determines much of what we see in the Bible – good or bad. The Word of God is a “mirror” which is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12). Jesus never told us to “be right” about the Bible (which is a book). He told us to become the Word of God (who is a Person). What we "know" often keeps us from who we need to know.

May we set aside all the labels we have for each other and come to the pure water of the Word. May we set down what we think we "know" and come to the watering trough with humble and hungry hearts. Like little children may we bend our knees, open our hearts and be filled with the love and revelation of the Word Himself, Jesus Christ.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8

He Just Wants You Back

Anyone who has lost track of their child, even for a few seconds, knows what it feels like to have waves of panic well up from within the deepest parts of their soul. At that point it doesn't matter what your child did to get lost - it doesn't matter - you just want your child back and you will do ANYTHING to find them. You will lose all composure and YELL and SCREAM for them. You will run around the block, you will approach complete strangers and ask for help - you will do anything. You just want them back in your presence. You just want to make sure they are safe. No one knows them like you do.

When you finally find them you run to them with open arms - you throw your arms around them and squeeze them tight saying, "Where did you go! Why did you leave me!" Nothing is stronger than the parent-child bond.

God is like that too.

You are God's child. He loves you so much. It really doesn't matter where you ran off to or what you have been doing. Seriously. It doesn't matter.

He just wants you back.

Did you know He will hug and kiss you before you even say sorry?

"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." - Jesus describing His Father in Luke 15:20

God is no longer interested in your sin.

He is interested in YOU.

Our Father's Children

As a father nothing, and I mean nothing, is more annoying than listening to my kids fight and bicker with each other. It literally drives me insane. Anyone else feel this way?

But why? Why does this make me so crazy? As parents we often find ourselves saying and doing crazy things as a result of our kids fighting. The other day I just stood there yelling unintelligible words [I think it was the word STOP mixed with the word NOW = SOW!!] as my 7 year old boys were talking down to my 2 year old daughter. The argument was essentially a battle of 7 year old logic versus 2 year old logic, which as a parent would actually be funny if it wasn't so annoying and accompanied by the hell-raising whining noises coming from their mouths. My boys had their Pokemon cards in neat little stacks, and my two year old daughter felt the need to swat them down. Cue the hell-raising whining noises followed by yelling and pushing with a sobbing 2 year old as a cherry on top, unable to figure out why her brothers don't like card swatting.

I got to thinking about that yesterday and came up with some ideas about why it makes me so crazy...

I believe it bugs me so much because they are my children and there is no easy way out of the situation. It requires me to get involved and problem-solve. It makes me feel like a failure as their father. I don't want to have to get involved. I want them to just know how to get along based on the lessons I provided them in the past. After all they are my children, not my slaves - I shouldn't need to command them around. I feel like I shouldn't need to give them rules to live by - they should just know by now, shouldn't they?

Maybe not. They are just kids after all. I guess that's what parenting is all about - showing them the right way and praying that it will eventually make sense to them - that eventually by the time they leave the confines of my protection that my desires for their good - for their best lives - will finally become their desires.

"The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father." - Galatians 4:2

As parents we make the rules because without them our "heirs" will die. They just don't get it - as my wife Susie keeps reminding me their little minds don't yet have the capacity to understand right and wrong - the knowledge of good and evil. They must be told. It must be demonstrated for them.

Repeatedly.

That's why it bugs me so much. I want them to get it. Like, now.

Don't get me wrong, my kids are growing up far too quickly - before my very eyes. But sometimes I want them to learn faster. I want them to remain children but operate with my will & desires so they stop fighting with each other and start helping each other. Sometimes I wish I could just impart my will & desires - my Spirit - within them so they would "get it" yet still remain my little children, intimate with me, under my roof, under my care – yet with my spirit of wisdom so they walk alongside me as sons instead of behind me like slaves.

"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father." For the Helper, the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to." - Galatians 4:7; John 14:26

I think all our fighting and bickering frustrated God too. I think it frustrated Him to the point of death. It frustrated Him for the same reason it frustrates us. After all, we are made in His likeness. Relational. Loving. Nurturing - with all the joy and frustrations that go along with it. He will never leave us or forsake us, but we sure grieve Him from time to time.

We all pay a steep price for our children - for them to "get it". Thousands of hours requiring truckloads of patience. Buckets of blood, sweat and tears are the prerequisite for even a chance at success.

  
The joy of parenting is watching as our kids finally start to get it. It warms our heart like beaming rays of sunshine as they willingly cling to the essence – the spirit – of what we taught them.

  

Without. Being. Told.

I watch on as my 7 year old son encourages my two year old daughter as she colors her picture, or as my two sons give up their favorite things for the sake of the other. As they get older and older my rules and commands will begin to fall off their souls like training wheels off a bike. Not because they aren’t good rules, but because they have accepted and trusted in my wisdom which has taught them how to ride the bike.

That’s my child.

When they come of age they will leave my rules behind completely and be free - relying instead on the deposit of wisdom I’ve placed within them rather than the confines of my rules - rules which I hate having to enforce. 

God is like that too. 

Rules are not needed where His Spirit exists. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17). We still may fall down from time to time, and those times may serve as reminders about why the rules once existed. But rather than try to put training wheels on a mountain bike, we must get back up and keep riding the bike in freedom, not only because our Father told us to, but because we simply like being with Him where He is - in complete freedom.

God doesn't want slaves & servants, He wants sons & daughters. He wants to share all that He is and all that He has with those who seek His own heart - with those who take ownership and responsibility in His estate.

Without. Being. Told.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends." - Jesus

But What About You?

Early on when I first started following Jesus (from a distance) I bought myself a big thick study Bible. You know, the kind of Bible that has notes from "scholars" on every page under the verses which told me what the verses mean. I would read the Bible, and of course in many cases I had no idea what it meant so I quickly glanced down at the study notes and read what the scholars told me it means. This went on for years. In fact, when people would ask me about certain passages I would quickly speak up and just regurgitate the notes from my study Bible. It made me look pretty smart. It even made me think I was smart. Not only smart, but it made others think I was close to God. I kind of liked looking smart. I also liked not having to spend more time talking to God trying to find the answers I was seeking.

There was just one glaring problem with that - I never got to know God for myself. The "scholars" served as a mediator between me and God so I never got to know Him personally. If I had a question, I would "go" to the scholars rather than lean into the Holy Spirit. Looking back, I didn't know God as well as I thought I did. In fact, I don't think I knew Him very well at all. The bad fruit in my life demonstrated  where my roots were truly planted - in the minds of men rather than the Word of God.

When Pilate was questioning Jesus before His crucifixion, he asked Jesus, "Are you King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?"

For some reason Jesus was really concerned about the source of people's knowledge of Him. There was another time after His resurrection when He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples replied that some people thought He was John the Baptist, some thought He was Elijah, some just a prophet, etc. But then Jesus followed up with a more direct question, "But who do YOU say that I am?" Then Peter blurted out, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Because of Peter's response, Jesus told him that he was really blessed because men didn't reveal that to him, but the Father revealed that to him from heaven. In fact, Jesus said that direct revelation from God would serve as the foundation of His church (Matt. 16:18).

When I was a boy I used to collect baseball cards. On the back of the cards there were the statistics of each of the players including their batting average, home runs and that kind of thing. I got really familiar with some of the players. In a couple cases I even got their autographs. But I never knew them. Not even one.

I've learned there is a big difference between knowledge about God and knowing God personally. Jesus didn't say that we will learn to recognize the voice of other sheep, He said His sheep will hear His voice. We must not let anyone stand between us and God - not a pastor, not a priest and certainly not any study notes. God doesn't want fans. He wants friends.

The Remedy

We can think of 'sin' as a virus which is in the world, in the air around us within the spiritual dimension. Some people are dying from this virus and don't even know it, nor would they have any reason to know about the vaccine. They are too busy to concern themselves with conspiracy theories like that anyway.

Other people are dying from the virus and know it, but they see the vaccine as too risky. Based on what they have seen so far, the effectiveness of the vaccine hasn't been proven. The side effects may not be worth it - they figure dying slowly may outweigh the perceived negative side effects of the vaccine.

And then others rush to take the vaccine but then see some lingering effects of the virus around them and lose faith in the vaccine's effectiveness. This uncertainty cancels out the work of the vaccine and keeps it dormant within them with no effect. Because they have lost faith in the vaccines ability to save them, they stay away from all others who appear to be infected with the virus thinking they might become contaminated. It's really no use telling other people about the vaccine - these people don't really believe it works anyway. They figure if they get really sick from the virus in the future they will just go to the hospital and get a booster shot to see if the dormant vaccine inside them will start working. For these people, the vaccine inside them is really more of a personal life insurance policy.

Still others recognize both the virus and also the dramatic effect the vaccine has had on the people who really believe it works. These people see how, when mixed with belief, the vaccine not only cancels out the work of the virus but also reverses its effects.

These people take the vaccine and let it radiate throughout their bodies. They tend to it. They feed it. They fan it into flame. They trust the seed will grow even before it pops through the dirt.

Soon, these people continue to breathe in the contaminated air around them without suffering from any negative effects of the virus. They become bold - the fear of the virus has lost it's grip on them. They walk right into the epicenter of the outbreak. The virus simply dies when it comes into contact with them. It's as if they are now clothed in a robe of protection. The virus no longer has a place to stick. It no longer has any power.

"For you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

The Mystery

I've often heard it said that as Christians what we need to do is "move over" and let God take control of the "steering wheel" of our lives. This same idea of us moving over and God taking over is conveyed through other familiar expressions such as "let go and let God" and "Jesus take the wheel" and statements like that. But are we really supposed to get out of the way so God can do all the driving? Are we really just along for the ride?

Statements like those sound wise but surprisingly this is not what Scripture teaches. In fact, the New Testament actually teaches the opposite. The Gospel is much greater than us moving over to the passenger seat.

The reason that "Gospel" means "good news" is because it is inclusive - God not only includes us in His divine plan, but we play a vital role - a central role with God. God is not seeking to replace us but to embrace us as new creations compatible with His nature. He no longer calls us servants, He calls us friends. He chooses to work through the uniqueness of our soul - according to our created purpose - rather than squashing us out or moving us to the side. He doesn't violate us, He inhabits us. This was His plan all along - the reunion of His Spirit with ours. Then, He teaches us how to drive.

When trying to explain this God-human reunion to the Colossian church, the apostle Paul referred to it as "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:26-27). In his letter to the Corinthian church Paul said something similar: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?...The two became one flesh. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit" (1 Cor. 6:15-17).

This wonderful and amazing truth has profound implications. God now goes where we go. God now lives where we live. God now talks when we talk. God now walks when we walk. We are His "ambassadors" in every sense of the word. This is why the apostle John could say with confidence, "as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to our faith. Do I really believe the gospel - that God so fully embraces every aspect of my being that He can work through my interests, hobbies, personality and sense of humor? Do I really see my entire self as being righteous, clean, and acceptable? Or do I only believe those things are some “spiritual” part of me that is far off and irrelevant, not really me? If the latter, then the gospel is no good to me in the practical moments of every day.

For the gospel to manifest powerfully in my life, I must believe that what Christ has done in making me new pertains to the real me who wakes up every day and lives a normal life. Then I’ve begun to understand my personal union with Jesus Christ. Jesus lived thirty-three years in authentic human flesh to show that His divinity is compatible with our humanity. And His divinity is entirely compatible with your humanity - regardless of how dirty the enemy makes you feel.

So, I would like to propose some new analogies for describing the Christian life...

I'm driving the car, in the driver's seat, and I'm sitting on God's lap while He whispers in my ear. God gave me the steering wheel and put His hands on top of mine. I feel His joy and pleasure when I make the right turns. I feel His nudging when I don't. But He never forces the wheel. He never tells me to move over. He loves being with me as I learn how to drive.

Like a father teaching his son how to swing a bat, God stands behind me smiling with His arms around me and His hands over mine, showing me how to make a level swing. He likes that I swing a little differently than His other kids - He thinks it's cute - but every bit as effective. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Why? Because I am "united with Him in spirit" and my body is the "Body of Christ."

But beware - like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, there are those who instead prefer the comfort of religious predictability - the old way of rules and separation from God over the new way of relationship and union with God. For some people the gospel is just too good to be true. They can't really bring themselves to accept the truth of being united with God. They feel too dirty. It feels like too much - it's just too much responsibility. They are worried about what people may think if they really start to walk this thing out with that kind of confidence, or rather that kind of "God-fidence". It sounds too much like blasphemy.

So watch out! Jesus was crucified for it.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." - Jesus

The Story of Cinderella

I'm beginning to understand that having a girl is quite a bit different than having boys. Hattie is two now and instead of cars and race tracks there is chap stick and dolls. Babies and diapers. Skirts and dresses. There is a softness that was brought into our house with her - it has been good for my boys and I to experience. It has made us better.

Recently I took Hattie to Costco and it didn't take her long to find a doll named Cinderella. She looked up at me with those innocent and precious eyes and said, "Buy? Daddy buy?"

There was really no question. I immediately put Cinderella into our cart. In fact, I almost grabbed another one. There was no saying no to those eyes - to those cheeks. It's hard to say no to my little girl.

After we got home I read the box and was reminded about the story of Cinderella. It's an inspiring story - a wicked stepmother and two jealous stepsisters kept Cinderella enslaved and in rags. She stood no chance of attending the royal ball. But when her fairy godmother appeared, she magically transformed Cinderella's reality into a dream come true. Cinderella enchanted the handsome Prince Charming at the ball, but had to face the wrath of her enraged stepmother and sisters when the spell wore off at midnight. 

I believe God has planted a version of this story into each of our hearts. I believe this God-given yearning for something better - our own promised land - is a powerful force in each of our lives and I believe it's the main reason why the Cinderella story has been so successful. It's a story of redemption.

I read a similar story about a Prince who lived not long ago. He came to this land to take for Himself a bride. The problem was the bride He wanted was also enslaved and in rags, just like in the Cinderella story. Like Cinderella, this bride also stood no chance of attending the royal ball with the Prince.

But this was no ordinary Prince.

This Prince had power over the wicked forces which held His bride in chains. After a while the bride fell in love with this Prince, but she couldn't let go of the past. Even though her chains were broken, she still thought like a slave girl and couldn't carry herself with confidence in the presence of this powerful Prince. The subjects of the Kingdom now looked to her as supernatural - as royalty, but she felt too inadequate. Making such a dramatic change from slavery to royalty was just too much for her to take.

The Prince was deeply saddened by this. His bride had access to all he owned - including his heart -  but the Bride could not walk with her head held high in His presence. Like a prisoner released after serving a 40 year sentence, the Bride could not assimilate into the land of freedom.

The Prince was desperate to help His bride, the love of His life. He desperately wanted to take her pain away - her sorrow - her depression - her past - her shame. So, He summoned the elders of the Kingdom and implemented a plan. He would enact an ancient ritual by which His death would multiply His very own Spirit into the one He loved. It was risky. It was powerful. It was love.

I haven't yet finished reading the story of this powerful Prince, for it is a story which continues to unfold to this day. It is a story which is still unraveling - like gigantic waves through the ocean of time. For the Prince went forward with the ritual - and it was far more powerful than anyone ever dreamed.

I will tell my little girl about this Prince. And I will tell her about the real Cinderella. The one who has been clothed in the robes of the Prince. The one who has been given the Spirit of the Prince. The one who is now able to walk with confidence alongside her Prince.

I will tell her of the Cinderella staring back at her in the mirror.

Die. Then Live!

While in college I answered a “roommate needed” advertisement for a place in Uptown Minneapolis. After talking with the guy on the phone I decided to meet with him, after which I decided to move in. After moving in I learned that he had to kick out his previous roommate because of his behavior - apparently the prior roommate was a heavy drinker and when he got drunk he would get violent and start to break things around the house. I noticed evidence of that around the house – some of the walls were damaged, I found some broken glass on the carpet and things like that. I even found some smutty magazines and a pipe for smoking weed in the bedroom when I moved in. The old roommate had moved out, but there was still evidence of him being there. 

I got to thinking - this is what it’s like after being born again. Our “old man” was “crucified with Christ and no longer lives” and then “God sends the Spirit of His Son into our hearts” - in other words our old roommate moves out and dies and then a new roommate moves in. But there still may be evidence of the old roommate laying around the house. Our old self is gone – died and buried – but we might find some of his old socks laying under the bed or some empty bottles or smutty magazines or things like that.

Often times this confuses us and we get deceived into thinking the old roommate was somehow resurrected and moved back in. Waves of anxiety and depression wash over us as we frantically try to fight and kick out an old roommate who is 6 feet underground. We see his empty bottles and smelly socks under the bed and assume he’s hiding in the closet. Unless we snap out of it and remind ourselves the old roommate is dead, we will see all his old stuff and assume we are still struggling. And, if we think we are still struggling, we will still struggle. If we think our house is still divided, it will be divided. If we think we are still sinners, we will sin.

“We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” – Romans 6:2

There are those who are teaching that we need to die multiple times – that we need to continue fighting the old roommate – that we will never truly kick him out until we die – that we will always be struggling with sin. But what this does is create a battle that isn’t even there. What this does is deceive us into thinking, “Well, the old roommate is always going to be here so I might as well just make a truce with him and try to live with him as best as possible.”

But “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is not what Jesus had in mind. 

Jesus died once for all. It is finished. We identify with His death once – that is what baptism represents. When we go under the water it symbolizes our death, and when we rise up out of the water it symbolizes our new life. Death happens once. We don’t need to be baptized over and over again. We made the decision. We took up our cross. We died. Jesus didn’t nail Himself back onto the cross after His resurrection. 

Neither do we. 

But we may still find some of that old man’s stuff laying around our house. We may need to purge the house of a few things. Those things are no longer consistent with who we are. We lost interest. This first “purge” may require a dumpster. After that, the garbage we throw away becomes more manageable as the new roommate takes over His responsibilities. 

May we come to know the truth which makes us free. May we rise up out of the baptismal waters into the new life that Jesus promised. May we grab a dumpster, purge the house, and rest in the righteousness of our new Roommate – Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Cor. 5:17

Where are you?

The other day my son Chase decided he wasn’t going to do something we told him to. After this he went over to “sit on the stairs” like he often does after doing something that he knows he shouldn’t have. A few minutes passed and I went over to the stairs to talk with him about it, and when he saw me he hid his face and ran up the stairs. While running up the stairs he even did the “mad yell” as I like to call it. 

Not the prettiest sound I’ve heard.

After some more time passed I went up and found him in his bed where he continued to hide his face from me. I reassured him that I still love him and reminded him of all the reasons why he needs to listen to Susie and I. Then I changed the subject and started talking about something else because I wanted him to snap out of it and come back downstairs with the rest of the family.

What was it that caused him to hide his face from me? Why did he run away from me? Did he hide because he was disobedient? Did he hide because he thought I didn’t love him anymore? Did he hide because he thought my ‘rules’ were too burdensome? No. What was it then?

Shame.

It was shame that caused him to hide his face. It was shame that caused him to run away and separate himself from me. I didn’t cause the separation - he did. I didn’t turn away in disgust when he disobeyed me – he turned away from me. On the other hand, it was ME who pursued him – it was ME who initiated the reconciliation.

See, we often teach people that it’s our sin that causes the separation between us and God – kind of like how oil separates itself from water. But that isn’t true. It’s our shame that causes the separation. We run from God, He doesn’t run from us. He doesn’t turn His face in disgust when we sin – He reaches out and follows us. Embraces us. Sin doesn't taint God. He's not scared.

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”. What did He do around sinners? Did He shake His head in disgust and walk away condemning people? Did He EVER seek to separate Himself from sinners? Did He ever seem worried about getting dirty when He reached out His hand to touch the ‘untouchable’ leper? The prostitutes? The sex addicts? How about the alcoholics?

Nope. Not even once. 

In fact, He pursued the disobedient. He looked for the dirtiest people, knowing He had the only water in the world which could make them clean.

“Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” – Romans 5:20

You’re not too dirty for God. You never will be. Dirt is a magnet for God’s love.

It’s God’s kindness that causes us to turn around. He runs after us and changes the subject because He wants us to snap out of it, turn around and come back to the family where we are secure in His love. We yell “I’m a sinner!” He yells, “You’re my son!” When we rest securely in His love, our actions conform themselves to His image. Our behavior takes care of itself. Apple trees grow apples, not oranges.

Love never fails. It’s just too irresistible.

Often times those in the church get it backwards. They put the behavior stuff before the love stuff. They expect to get apples without planting any apple trees. Or worse, they just point out all your oranges. If you have been the recipient of this false gospel, I apologize on their behalf. Come back! Turn around. Snap out of it. Bring your dirt. Your Father is waiting with open arms.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:17