Reflections, October 25, 2009

Sunday, October 25^th, 2009

Reflections: “How Far Have You Gone?”

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 

Scripture Reading For This Week: Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15; John 10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-12; James 1... 

There have been times in our lives when we may have felt that we have reached the point of no return. How far have you gone? How far have you run from God? Do you believe you have gone too far to return? Our Father says, no matter how far you have gone or try to run, you could never outrun Him or His unconditional love for you. 

It is my sincerest prayer that this week's Reflection, will bring encouragement and inspiration to your spirit. That it would be meat for your soul; food for your thoughts, and just what you needed to hear and know. I pray that the love of God finds permanent residence in your heart. 

How many times in our lives have we done something that we feel there is no going back from? I mean, honestly speaking, we sure have done and said some things, that after the moment it was said or done, we regretted immediately. And when that happened—what did you do? Did you run from the situation or persons? Are you still hiding? Or, did you just move on, never really dealing with what happened? 

There are so many things in our lives that we may wish we'd never done. And for so many people, it has caused them to runaway or hide from the people they know and love. It has even caused many of us to runaway and try and hide from God. 

The enemy would have us to believe that when we have gone too far, that there is no return. He would have us to believe that God wants nothing to do with us; that He couldn't or wouldn't possibly forgive that which we have did. Satan would tell us and have us believe that we are not worthy of the love of God or of our family and friends. He is subtle in what he does; with every whisper, trying to destroy us, and even get many to take their own lives. 

Glory to God!, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ! Who, intercedes on our behalf; Who gave His life for His sheep; Who goes out for one lost sheep, and rejoices over its return...

Luke 15:4-7, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

God and heaven rejoices when we are found and return home. Home, into the folds of God's loving care; under His grace and mercy. Sure, there may be thousands of people singing and praising the Lord; rejoicing in their relationship with the Father. Yet, it is that one, that one person who is being swallowed up in anguish and regret, that God will seek out and call to, until he is where he belongs: in the safety of God's shelter. 

You cannot go too far that God will suddenly stop calling out to you, or reach for you. Yes, our sins, our foolish mistakes cause us to sometimes doubt the love and sincerity of God. There are times our actions keep us away from the people we love and seeking God, because we may be too ashamed of the paths we have taken. However, God says, even if men reject you; your family rejects you; your friends reject you; if no one else can forgive you—He does, and will not reject you.

One of the many loving things about our Heavenly Father's character, is His unconditional love. He loves regardless of how much or how many times we've messed up. King David often comes to my mind. I think of the passion he'd had for the lord, and the Psalms it inspired. To see that he knew and came to understand the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. If any one had cause to hide and run in shame; surely it was David! Yet, God called him a man after His own heart.

How is that? After all, David was a murderer; an adulterer. He lusted after his friend's wife, and when he got her pregnant, plotted to make his friend believe it was his. And when that did not work, he made sure the husband (his friend!), was killed in battle. Talk about going far! David went extremely far from God. Yet, there was was thing that David came to know and understand about the Father: He is relentless! 

God will not give up, nor stop seeking, until it is our whole heart He has. And when David understood this, he knew that a repentant heart is what God desired. David understood that it was not in the sacrifices or the burnt offerings; but a heart that was godly sorry, and repentant—never returning to that sin again. And this is why David was considered a man after God's own heart. 

Once we come to the realization that no matter how far we have gone, or try to run, that God is still reaching towards us; we begin to understand the love that the Father has for us. Yes, there are consequences for our actions. Don't get it twisted! We do have to deal with the costs of the sins/actions we've made. But god will show mercy and be there with us to go through it. 

I think of the parable of the prodigal son, (Luke 15:11-32). The youngest son of a wealthy man decided that he wanted his inheritance while his father was still living. He didn't want to wait. So, the father agreed, and gave his youngest son his share. The son leaves home and proceeds to live it up! Spending all of his inheritance. Totally squandering it. When all is said and done, he realizes that he has nothing. Just at this time, a famine hits the land. He has no money, no where to go, and ends up working on a pig farm. His bottom was so far down, that he ate what the pigs ate; had he not, he would have starved.

While he's sitting there, dining with the pigs, he goes over what he has done and all he's lost. He looks at his surrounding and realizes that even his father's servants eat better than this! He now feels unworthy to be called his father's son. But he makes up his mind to humble himself, go home, and offer himself as a servant. At least he knows as his father's servant, he'd be better off than where he was presently. 

What a surprise it must have been for him to be greeted with the fanfare that he received when he returned home. While he was yet a ways off, his father saw him, and ran and greeted his son with a kiss, hugging him. He told his father he unworthy to be called his son. But the father was just happy to see that his son was alive and had returned home; so much so that he had a feast and celebration for his lost son, dressing him in the finest clothes. 

This is how the Father rejoices over us! His love and kindness transcends the state of our sin. His glory outshines the ugliness of our situation. His forgiveness stomps out the stench of griminess. When we return to Him—just as we are—it is the blood of Jesus that the Father sees. It is our heart of repentance that rises as a sweet smelling savor to His nostrils, squelching the stink of the sinful life we have partaken in. When we come to ourselves and stop allowing the enemy to deceive us; we will be able to see the love that God has for us, and His outstretched arms waiting for us to walk into.

 However, please know this: there will be opposition. Because there is no way the enemy wants us to know or understand the sincere, unconditional, healing love of God. Not everyone will be happy when we return to our senses.  

People rarely mention the oldest son in the parable of the prodigal son. He was not too thrilled at his father's response to his youngest brother's return. After all, he didn't do what he did. He was home with his father, being responsible. His father didn't give a feast or make a fuss over him! His father simply answered his eldest son, that it was right to celebrate the fact that his brother was dead, but was now alive; that he was lost but was now found.

There are those who would love nothing more than for you to stay lost and far away. There are those who would like nothing better than for you to never realize the truth. And these are the people that are being used of Satan to try and destroy us. But Jesus said that He came to give us life more abundantly!

Misery loves company. And when we do things that may cause us to run away, or fall from where God has called us; we will encounter Satan's minions that want to keep us as far a way from the Lord as possible. But God, our heavenly Father, will always seek us out. Our Shepherd will always look out for His sheep; especially the lost sheep...

John 10:14,15, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

Hallelujah! How far have you gone? Are you believing God can't reach you; that you messed up to bad or have gone to far? Well know and believe this: You can never go farther than God's hand can reach you, and pull you back. You just have to want it and believe it and receive it! 

When you hear the Shepherd's voice calling, don't be afraid—answer. He loves you more than the sin you are in. For only the Shepherd truly knows what it is His sheep need. I pray the spirit of peace and of prosperity find rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. There is nothing too hard, or impossible for God; especially when it concerns His sheep, whom He loves. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.