mistakes He knew we were making

"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
~Romans 5:8

...and yet, i think God's ultimate act of love--laying down His life for us in His Son--only slightly surpasses His next act: offering us the choice to walk away.

free will must be one of the most painful and beautiful creations God ever set into the human soul.

"..while we were yet sinners.." while we spit in His Face. while we tell Him how He's failed us. while we call Him a liar. while we embrace every act that is harmful to us and that is painful to Him. while we bless and curse with the same mouth He gave us. while we reject the very life He breathed into us. "..Christ died for us."

God loves us. He gives us grace. grace loves beyond our sin. God loves enough to offer grace, and to allow us to refuse. He loves us so much that he will let us make our own choices, even when they harm ourselves, when they can harm others, and when they break His Heart. He knows that those who have been hurt and are in Him will hold fast. why?

because He is a True Father. and any good Daddy knows that once His child is old enough to make decisions themselves, they must learn from their mistakes. forcing only fosters hatred. not love.

today in church our pastor spoke about God inhabiting the praises of His people and hearing their prayers. "but God only goes where He is welcome" he said.

welcoming God takes faith.

it takes the power of the Spirit. it is acknowledging that He Is God Almighty. He is not a lucky 8 ball, and He will not be treated like one.

i stand amazed today. God showed His Love by holding back His Hand. He let decisions be made. He showed His love by letting a door slam. He put His Spirit on me today and showed me what it feels like to do that, and as the tears rolled down my cheeks, i began to understand a little of what it means to be the Father of the prodigal son. it means our God will suffer heart break. He sheds tears for His children.

God is no murderer--He will not hunt down those who are not willing to come to Him.
However, He is still willing and always at the ready to save the lost who will be found, even if they have walked away in times past.

Praise God, who loves us enough to let us go, and even more: to take us back the moment we turn around, truly repentant and ready to come Home.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."
~Luke 15:20