Emmanuel The Wait is Over
One of my favorite lines from the popular novel by William P. Young, The Shack, is when God the Father (Papa) tells Mack that He, through Jesus' death and resurrection, is now "fully reconciled to the world." Mack, who, like all of us, does not understand much at all about God's ways and purposes, asks if that includes everyone or just those who believe in Him. God answers, "The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way." Wow. The Shack is about understanding and pursuing true relationship with God. We spend our lives just waiting for love and intimacy with humans and with God, but we, so very often neglect the relationship building blocks. We want love, now, and deep intimacy, without the time, devotion and energy requirement. We go our own way, like sheep, and become more lost and farther away from our goal. I John 4:10 says "This is love: not that we loved God," . . . because we flunk out all too often to love as God intends . . . "but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Truly, God is waiting for us to wise up and seek true relationship with Him, to accept and enjoy the Love He has already given. Oh, and, by the way, the next verse tells me and you that "since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." Seek true relationships with others.
Dear Heavenly Father,
help me to go through the gate you hold open and to open the gate I keep locked, keeping me from true love and intimacy with You and my family and friends and others who need to know You.
Amen.