Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 21 July 2022 | Thursday Message
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TOPIC: God’s Pursuing Love
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. – Job 5:11
Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 21 July 2022 MESSAGE
When I stumbled headlong into my first big trial as a new Christian, I wondered just where the love of God had gone.
People spoke of God’s love helping through the hard times, yet I couldn’t shake a mental image of him leaning against some ivory wall in heaven, casually thumbing in the direction of the cross. “That says it all,” I imagined Him saying.
I soon discovered I wasn’t alone in that attitude. I’ve talked to a number of people over the years who imagine a bored, lethargic God…a God only passively interested in our circumstances—and slightly irritated if pushed to demonstrate his present-day love. Some describe him as little more than a cosmic warehouse clerk, filling mail-order prayer requests. Others feel God abandons them when some other, “more obedient” Christian catches his attention.
My perception of him has changed, of course, as I’ve grown in my faith. But even those of us who view him as a powerful, caring God easily underestimate the strength of is determined love.
God does not observe our lives at a cool distance. He is neither apathetic nor detached. He is on the move. He is involved.
Listen to Andrew Greeley….
Our God is not patiently standing by and waiting for us to offer love; he is actively and vigorously pursuing us…. He is the father running down the trail to embrace the prodigal son even before the boy can speak his act of contrition. He is the mad farmer showering a full day’s wage on men who hadn’t even worked. He is Jesus forgiving the sinful woman even before she spoke her sorrow. He is the king lavishing a banquet on beggars. These are all symbols of a God whose love for us is so active, so strong, that by human standards he would be, at least, said to be mad.
God is not the sort to casually murmur, “Well, sure I love you.” He constantly shows us how much.
Consider the impact we could have on our world if we began to pursue God with some of the intensity with which he seeks us! If we would respond in obedience the instant we discerned the Spirit’s prodding. If we, like God, had a passion for holiness. If we would freely pour out our love as he does.
In a day when it’s fashionable to appear cool, bored, uncaring, and detached, we can’t afford to doubt the enthusiastic, all-encompassing love of God. His compelling love surrounds us every minute. He’s in front of us, behind us, relentlessly pouring his love into our lives. What madness! What a passion for our souls! How can we be halfhearted toward our circumstances toward others—when he loves us so?
May we be found running down the trail to forgive those who offend us. May we shower our abundance on those who don’t deserve it. May we embrace the sinner before he even speaks his sorrow. And may we pursue our God with even a fraction of the energy with which he pursues us.
Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 21 July 2022, Thursday Message
