NOT GUILTY!
the Saving GRACE of God’s Redeeming LOVE
April 21st, 2023
On the Run
Jonah 1:1-3, ‘The word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai:“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.’ (NIV)
My insolence has sent me to some pretty dingy places. I might never have run so far and so fast that I caught sail, nor have I ever been thrown overboard so those around me might escape God’s wrath and not be held responsible for my mistakes. But I have trampled far from home; been outside of the safety-net of God’s grace; done everything possible to make myself small and invisible. But He still saw me and pursued me and brought me back to Himself.
God’s love knows no boundaries. Our foolishness can send us to places where only He will find us. Like in a fish belly. Or perhaps He waits for us at the bottom of a bottle of escape or sneaking soundlessly through the shadows of sin and shame. His eyes penetrate everywhere His children flee. In fact, He is always watching the one. I remember one time my kids asked me for a puppy. They finally talked me into it, even though I knew better! We went out to this ranch, advertising multiple litters, and there were puppies of every kind and color, running amuck all over on the grounds. One of my daughters pointed out this certain puppy, and she said, ‘That’s it! That’s the one, Momma!’ and we went chasing after it. The more we chased, the faster it ran…in the opposite direction! There were puppies everywhere whining and barking, licking us and jumping up on us, saying, ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ But no! my daughter said, ‘That’s the one!’ and we pursued it until we caught it, and we took it home, kicking and screeching, so unhappy to be chosen by us. But we didn’t stop until we found it, and eventually, the puppy loved us and responded to our care and love for him.
Isn’t that just like the Father?! He pierced the darkness in pursuit of you, of me. He said, ‘That’s the one.’ And He stopped at nothing to rescue us. Even when we became ugly and belligerent, fighting against His great love for us, He patiently loved us and wooed us to Him. He sought us and took us into His loving embrace. It was His deep mercy that led us to repentance. What great love has the Father for His children, and that grace He paints us with, is exactly why we’ve been deemed ‘Not Guilty’, and why we are set free.
God’s Loving Kindness Leads Me to Repentance
