The Truant

28 March 2012

This is for that one person reading this today that might need a new and reconciled beginning.

What does God do with a truant who plays hooky from her Heavenly Father? What are the options?  One thing is sure: He doesn’t pamper her. He knows she needs to stretch her spiritual muscles.

He doesn’t shout, “Get up, foolish child!”  She’s so covered with mud she can’t move. He doesn’t condemn her, because His promise is, “There is therefore now no condemnation.”

In the end, He does what He always does for any half-demolished child of His: He unlocks her handcuffed spirit with His key of infinite love.  He checks her fluctuating heart with its spiritual irregularity.  He gives her a fleeting glimpse of things as they could be.  He accepts her confession.  He thoroughly cleanses her, then he holds her close to his tender heart.  He restores her joy and empowers her to obey. 

Suddenly she knows with great gladness that her one safe fortress is the center of her Father’s will. 

At least so it is with one truant child: me.   

Have you ever had days where you felt half-demolished?  I have.  And it’s always due to my selfish and controlling nature.  On days like this, I can take a simple situation and turn it from bad to miserable.  And like a tornado, I have the potential to tear down everything in my path.  I’m so grateful that our Heavenly Father doesn’t parent this way.  He disciplines us with a tender love.  Unlike human love, His love never demands or shouts.  I love everything about this devotion I read this morning. 

“He restores her joy and empowers her to obey.”  What a beautiful example of His Perfect love! 

As we seek to love and discipline our own children, may we be reminded of the full measure of grace, inexhaustibly given to us.

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts. ~1 John 1:9-10

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