Run

Almighty God, The Great I Am, Immovable Rock, Omnipotent, Powerful, Awesome Lord, Victorious Warrior, Commanding King of Kings, Mighty Conqueror;
     These are words from a song, they are also words that describe God. Powerful words, descriptive words that speak of Him as all powerful, not needing anything or any one.  Why would  God take notice of me? What could I have to offer the Creator of the world? My very existence depends upon His will that I continue to breathe. The song goes on...
and the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run, was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms, held my head to His chest, said My child's come home again. Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, with forgiveness in His voice He said, child, do you know I still love you?
     As you may have noticed I have changed a couple of words, son to child. The song is for us all, the song is of forgiveness. The way God forgives us. He watches for a repentant heart, He runs to us. Did you get that? He runs. To me. To you.
     This song comes from the parable of the lost son. Remember how the son left home to live life as he pleased? Remember how his father would spend the days looking down the road for his son? Remember the day the son came to his senses and returned to his fathers house? His dad saw him from afar. His dad ran to meet him. Not too hard to imagine for us. The thing we don't know automatically that the original listeners did is this small fact.... Men don't run. It is considered shameful, undignified, humbling to be a mature man and run in that time and culture. Wow that changes the picture for me, how bout you?
     So this is how God forgives me, fully, without regard to propriety, or dignity. With humility and a shameful death my forgiveness was purchased. And it was with great joy. Imagine the dad waiting, days, weeks, months, years? What joy would there be when someone who was lost is home again. What joy!
     This is also a reminder of how I need to forgive. I am the reflection of God, I better look like Him in every way, every day. Soooo hard, so very hard. I don't forgive well. I hold grudges, I remember hurts, I hold back my trust, my love, my giving nature, the best of me, when I have been hurt in an effort to avoid further pain, and if I am being brutally honest to get a bit of revenge for myself. I like to judge whether that person deserves my gift of forgiveness. Does this sound like someone who waits at the gate looking down the road for my lost one? Ya, not to me either. I think I need to invest in a pair of running shoes.