Most of us don’t set out each day with “ill intentions.” We certainly don’t intend to harm other people and we’re not intentionally trying to walk a few steps farther away from Jesus. But the thing of it is, we’re actually really skilled at managing our image so it appears we’re doing just fine. In reality, most of us have ourselves convinced that our daily habits are good and necessary. Here’s what I mean: we have a reason, a rationale, for everything.
“I stay up late because…” “I talk to my kids that way because…” “I used my friends’ homework because…” “I leave the TV all the time because…” “I need my cell phone because…” “I have to go for a run everyday because…”
Beneath the surface of our not-so-bad habits we are battling bitterness or crippling anxiety or festering anger or selfishness or pride.
I believe the ongoing invitation from Jesus, to love God and love others, always begins with our own healing. And in receiving healing and becoming more whole in the presence of Jesus, we can partner with God in bringing that healing and wholeness into the world. Would you be courageous enough to join me in asking Jesus to show us (in his most loving and kind way) how we’ve been making excuses? And then…get this…once our eyes are opened to the un-health in our lives, we get to join Jesus in bringing his healing and wholeness into the world.
If you don’t mind, take a second to read Luke 15:11-32, the story of the Prodigal Son.
This well-known story of the Prodigal son is a parable Jesus tells in response to the Pharisees grumbling and complaining about the way Jesus was offering love and friendship to the obvious sinners of society.
I wonder, which son do you resonate with? Maybe you feel like the prodigal son, totally regretting the bad decisions you’ve made, realizing how selfish you’ve been. Maybe you are desperate to be even in the same vicinity of the God you’ve hurt so deeply by turning your back on him? And if you’re really honest with yourself, you might actually prefer to stay on as one of his “hired hands” so you can get all the benefits of the close proximity but none of the responsibility of being an heir.
Imagine with me for a moment: Jesus standing in the distance, at the edge of the property of your childhood home, eyes peeled for your return. He is like a watchman waiting for the first signs up sunrise, He is so excited to see you. There is no shame, no reproach, no wagging fingers or “I told you so’s.” There is only grace and love and the biggest party you can imagine with all of your favorite foods.
What in the world?! What kind of love is this?
And at the same time there’s the older brother, also wondering, “What in the world?! What kind of love is this? I have been nothing but dutiful and loyal. I have been a hard-worker. I have done all the right things. How is this kid not getting punished or rebuked or cut out of the family or, heck, thrown into jail? Dad’s going to throw him a party!”
Here’s the thing: in the Kingdom of God, there is scarcity of love and celebration. There is no fear that the goodness and love and big-huge-party-throwing abundance will run out.
“Every time God’s active, stretching, searching, healing love finds someone and calls that person back home, it does not mean there is less for the rest of us. It means there is more.”
Rodney Clap
When one of us returns to God with our whole hearts after living selfishly and dishonorably, we ALL get to party to celebrate. And when one of us confesses our resentful, our festering feelings of bitterness and entitlement, yeah…you guessed it…we ALL get to celebrate.
I want to paint a picture of the crazy way Jesus loves us. On Monday evening I loaded my girls up on my bike and we headed to pick up my husband, Kevin, from work. In addition to being co-pastor at our church, Kevin works full time at LaZBoy world headquarters which happens to be less than 2 miles from our house. Kevin’s new schedule means he’s getting off an hour earlier than usual and all three of us girls were excited to surprise him. So off we went, biking to meet him.
We arrived at the bike rack outside of headquarters about 10 minutes early so the girls toddled around and I enjoyed the warm evening, looking occasionally at my phone to check the time. Soon enough, it was 5 after 7 and I glanced over to see Kevin leaving the building. He was a couple hundred feet away from us and was completely unaware of our presence, so I whispered to my daughter, Kirsten, “There’s daddy.” Instantly she shouted, “DADDY!” and took off sprinting towards him as fast as her three year old legs could carry her.
At the sound of her familiar squeal, Kevin looks up, locks eyes with his girl, and unabashedly starts running towards her, dress clothes and all. I hope some of his co-workers saw him because it was quite a sight to behold. I stood back, drinking it all in, a huge smile pasted across my face, as 1 year old Junia did her best to toddle/crawl her way towards her daddy. It was a beautiful moment.
I’m more than a hundred percent sure that’s the exact kind of love Jesus has for every one of us. Whether we’re a responsible, reliable, compliant type of child or a bit more on the reckless side. Whether our sins and mistakes are obvious to others or rather hidden, I believe Jesus is always waiting for us to return to him with our whole hearts. And as soon as he sees us coming, he’ll take off like a sprinter at the sound of the gun, hair flying, garments totally undignified, ready to meet us more than halfway there. Our God just wants to be with us.
How do you need to return to God with your whole heart?
