Have you ever been to an AA meeting? These are meetings for people caught in the
grip of alcohol or drug addiction and they hang out with other recovering
individuals a couple of times each week.
The meetings always include opportunities
for any member to share and their sharing goes something like this …
“Hello. I’m John, and I’m an alcoholic.”
Or
“Hello. I’m Tracy, and I’m an addict.”
The group always responds with “Hello Tracy.” “Hello John.’
What if we approached God in this manner?
“Hello
God. I’m Judy, and I’m a prostitute.”
“Hello
God. I’m David and I looked at porn last
Thursday.”
“Hello
God. I’m Charlie and I stole some money
from my work place.
“Hello
God. I’m Jenny and I’m an addict.”
“Hello
God. I’m Jerry and I’m not as righteous
as others think I am.”
Name any trap we humans can fall into and
there you have
And after our greeting, God simply
responds with ...
“Hello ___
(name). I love
you!”
That’s it.
“I love
you.”
He doesn't say –
“Where have you been you lowlife?”
“Why did you do that again?”
“Don’t you know to avoid those places?”
No.
God doesn't say that.
He says “I love you.”
“I Love
You.”
In the Bible, there is a story of a
wayward son and a forgiving father. The
younger son asked for and received his inheritance early so that he could go
and live a life of pleasure and indulgence.
After he spent all of his money, he
decided to return to his Father.
When he was a long way off, the Father
saw him and RAN to him.
He RAN to his repentant son. The son could hardly get the words out of his
mouth before the Father was giving orders.
“Bring the
best robe.”
“Kill the
fatted Calf.”
“We’re throwing
a party for my returning son.”
That is an amazing image of God.
He’s not looking to do us in. He’s looking for ways to show us
extravagance, and hope, and love, and redemption.
That’s a great word – REDEMPTION!
After a life of wandering and carousing,
the FATHER simply says, “ I've missed
you. Welcome home. Take your rightful place as my
son/daughter. And above all – above all
else I love you. I really love
you.”
You and I receive that extravagance every
moment of our lives. Are we accepting
the gift?
P Michael
Biggs
Offering
Hope
Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word
at a Time
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