A Long Way Off!
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)
This passage of Scripture has always rung to me the precious truth that the Father embraces His chosen ones while they are in their sin and He brings them into the fold, changing them from a lost to a found condition. He then begins that process of making them more like His beloved Son as He continually changes and sanctifies them. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ for us." (Romans 5:8)
Today, God showed me yet another level of truth in this passage that so encouraged my heart. He showed me that though I stand redeemed by Christ's blood, I am still "a long way off" from His holy and righteous standard. May I emphasize "LONG WAY OFF"! I am sin-steeped, worldly-minded, self-centered, mean-spirited, hateful and un-loving at times. Many days I spend wallowing in worldly pain, distracted and out of heavenward focus. At fleeting moments, I see Christ-likeness flourishing in me, but then my wicked flesh rises up, interrupting and seemingly reversing the sanctification and growth that are taking place. Though the Holy Spirit in me seeks to conform to the image of Christ, the distorted focus of my flesh jumps in and malforms the image of beauty.
I know with certainty that God will bring to completion the work that He has begun in me. My heart and spirit are humbly bowed in thanksgiving that He runs to me and embraces me eventhough I am still such a "long way off". Each time I forsake His glory for my own or some other idolatrous desire, He runs to me, embraces me, and lovingly forgives me, forgetting my transgression as He sees His spotless Son in my stead. Oh, such grace that is upon my head! My Lord and my God, He will never cease to teach me, discipline me, transform me, inspire me, encourage me, embrace me. The embrace of the Saviour is the only balm for my soul and how I groan for that time when He will deliver me from this body of death and give me a glorified body in which to worship Him in purity of Spirit and Truth.
God continually applies to me the redemption purchased by Christ as He, throughout my life, works faith into me, unites me thereby to Christ, lovingly reminding me of my miserable sinfulness and renewing my will, so that I am persuadedly able to embrace Christ until I'm one day glorified!
Oh Lord! Renew my will to embrace Your Son as you remind me of such desperate need for Your grace!
This passage of Scripture has always rung to me the precious truth that the Father embraces His chosen ones while they are in their sin and He brings them into the fold, changing them from a lost to a found condition. He then begins that process of making them more like His beloved Son as He continually changes and sanctifies them. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ for us." (Romans 5:8)
Today, God showed me yet another level of truth in this passage that so encouraged my heart. He showed me that though I stand redeemed by Christ's blood, I am still "a long way off" from His holy and righteous standard. May I emphasize "LONG WAY OFF"! I am sin-steeped, worldly-minded, self-centered, mean-spirited, hateful and un-loving at times. Many days I spend wallowing in worldly pain, distracted and out of heavenward focus. At fleeting moments, I see Christ-likeness flourishing in me, but then my wicked flesh rises up, interrupting and seemingly reversing the sanctification and growth that are taking place. Though the Holy Spirit in me seeks to conform to the image of Christ, the distorted focus of my flesh jumps in and malforms the image of beauty.
I know with certainty that God will bring to completion the work that He has begun in me. My heart and spirit are humbly bowed in thanksgiving that He runs to me and embraces me eventhough I am still such a "long way off". Each time I forsake His glory for my own or some other idolatrous desire, He runs to me, embraces me, and lovingly forgives me, forgetting my transgression as He sees His spotless Son in my stead. Oh, such grace that is upon my head! My Lord and my God, He will never cease to teach me, discipline me, transform me, inspire me, encourage me, embrace me. The embrace of the Saviour is the only balm for my soul and how I groan for that time when He will deliver me from this body of death and give me a glorified body in which to worship Him in purity of Spirit and Truth.
God continually applies to me the redemption purchased by Christ as He, throughout my life, works faith into me, unites me thereby to Christ, lovingly reminding me of my miserable sinfulness and renewing my will, so that I am persuadedly able to embrace Christ until I'm one day glorified!
Oh Lord! Renew my will to embrace Your Son as you remind me of such desperate need for Your grace!
Yes, praise the Lord for His initiative in coming to us!
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