Running Into His Arms

In our Bible study today we were asked the following question:

"If you saw Jesus standing nearby, how would you approach him?"  

What is your first reaction to this question?  One of the members of our group said that she would be in such awe that she would fall down at His feet, probably weeping and praising Him.  Another said that she would approach Him timidly, feeling unworthy.  My first reaction was that I would run into His arms,

like a little child so happy to see her daddy or beloved grandparent after a long separation.  I could envision myself hugging His legs and wanting to be held in His lap.

Photo by Michael Belk, "Journeys With The Messiah"

I guess I feel a lot like Simon Peter, who, after the Lord's death, felt lost and alone...and probably quite perplexed with how things had happened.  The disciples never expected that the Lord would die...even though He had given them plenty of hints and notice...they just didn't quite get it.  So, they went back to the thing they knew best...fishing.

In John chapter 21 we find the disciples out in a boat, where they had been fishing all night long and had caught nothing.  In the morning, (see verse 4) "Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus."   And then in verse 5, Jesus calls to them, "Children, have you any food?", and they answered, "No."  So He tells them (vs. 6) to "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some."  And so they did, and the Bible tells us that "now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish."

First, the disciple John recognized that it was Jesus, and said, "It is the Lord!"  (vs. 7) When Simon Peter heard  that it was Jesus, he put on his outer garment and plunged into the sea....and in his excitement and joy, hurried onto the shore to meet the Lord.  

Was it because Peter felt worthy of Christ that he ran onto the shore?  Did he feel entitled to being first in line to greet the Lord?  Probably not...remember, Peter was the one who had denied Christ three times the night before He was crucified.  And Jesus doesn't exactly let Peter get away with that when He does sit down with him on the shore to have breakfast.  Jesus asks Peter three times  in verses 15-17 just how much he really loves Him...and tells Peter to not only tend to, but to feed His sheep.  

This gives me pause.  My gut reaction to the question about how I would approach Jesus was to run and leap into His arms.  Now I wonder...How would He respond to my exuberance?  Would He welcome me with open arms, like the pictures above...or would He have some questions and instructions for me as well?  

Honestly, I know that I am not worthy to approach Christ with anything but awe and extreme reverence and deep humility.  I am not worthy of His love, mercy and grace.  But guess what? None of us are worthy in our own strength.  We are only able to approach Christ because He has made us worthy.  He paid the price for our sins, and washed us white as snow with His own shed blood on the cross.  

Romans 8:14-17 tells me that as I am "led by the Spirit of God", I am a son (daughter) of God.  I am an heir of God and joint heir with Christ...and therefore I am worthy to be called His child...and to call Him, "Abba, Father".  "Abba", in the Greek means Father, a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence.   Therefore, I have confidence that I can approach Jesus, the Son of God, with unreserved joy and excitement, knowing that He will indeed welcome me as His beloved child.  And, as any good parent might do, He may ask me a few questions about whether or not I've been a good girl...and perhaps He may even give me some instructions for how I could improve or possibly give me some new assignments.  And that's okay with me.  

Romans 8:18 says "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

So, whatever instructions Christ may have for me will only help me to continue to grow in grace and be prepared for the glory that is yet to come in heaven.   

Now this question is to you, dear friend...how would you approach Jesus?  Do you feel unworthy to even speak His name, afraid that He might not know you?  Or do you have confidence that you can run into His arms as a child running to her father, and know that you will be welcomed and loved...and cherished?  If you aren't sure about that...I invite you to make sure now...just ask Him to show you the way, and He will definitely welcome you with open arms.

These flowers have nothing to do with the story...but the rose was blooming in my garden this morning, and I wanted to share it with you.  The violets continue to bloom on my kitchen windowsill, and again, I wanted to share them with you.  Sometimes we just have to stop and smell the roses/flowers.  Life is too short to be so busy and hung up on whether or not we meet all the proper standards.  However...one standard needs to be met...ask Christ to come into your life and heart....and then just breathe....and smell the roses.  You are beloved.

"Faith without Works is DEAD!" Updated

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."  James 2:26

Photo by Michael Belk, "Journeys with the Master"...

Now don't shut me off before I have had a chance to speak here...I am not trying to stir up a theological debate over faith vs. works.  I am not talking about whether or not we are saved by faith or by works...The Bible is very clear in Ephesians 2:8-9 when it says:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." 

No, what I want to talk about is the works of the believer after he has been saved.   In Ephesians 2:10 we are reminded that,

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

So, we were created by God through Christ to do good works...it is something that is expected of each believer.  Not as a prerequisite for salvation, but as an action of the heart, an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God as a result of the salvation that we did not, could not earn...a way of giving back to God out of the humility and gratitude of our hearts for such a precious gift.

I was thinking about the story of the "Good Samaritan" this morning, found in the book of Luke 10:25-37.  I'm sure we've all heard this story before, how there was a certain man who was traveling and fell among thieves. And the robbers stripped him of his clothing, beat him up, and left him half dead along the road.

Along comes a priest, on his way to the Synagogue no doubt,  and when he sees the man lying there in his agony and pain, the priest actually crosses over to the opposite side of the road and turns his head and goes on as if he didn't even see him.   Next there was a Levite, a man of the Law, who also drove by and looked the other way...just couldn't be bothered...I'm sure he was on his way to the court to make lots of money off of other unfortunate people.

Now along came a Samaritan...a stranger in that land...a person who would not have been considered a good religious man or even a person whom one would have trusted because of his national heritage and ethnic background...and when he saw that poor man lying in the ditch crying out for help, he stopped, had compassion on the man, bandaged his wounds, put him on his own animal (or in his own luxury vehicle?), and took him to the nearest inn and personally took care of him!

The next morning, when this Samaritan man needed to get on to his destination, he went to the innkeeper and gave him his own money out of his own pocket, and asked the innkeeper to please take care of the injured man, and when he returned he would repay him whatever more he had spent in his care.

Jesus asked the young man to whom He was telling this story which person he believed was a good neighbor to the man who had fallen among the thieves.  The young man replied, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37)

So now, dear "Christian Friends", let me ask you this, why is it that oftentimes the people who are the first to come to our aid with offers of casseroles, rides to the doctor for chemo treatments, help with babysitting, thoughtful gifts of encouragement and items to comfort us in our time of need are NOT always the church people, our best friends, or even family members?  Why is it that often times the people who show the most concern, love and compassion are total strangers?  In reality they are often people that we would not consider to be "good Christians", as we judge christianity from our lofty, sanctimonious religious balconies of false piety and holiness.  Why is that? 

Perhaps you don't believe that could be true...maybe you think that since you pay your tithe each week at church and you sing in the choir, and you might even attend an extra Bible Study or serve on a committee that you have done your part.  You must be a "good Christian".  Yes, you are saved because you have accepted the free gift of salvation offered only through faith in Jesus Christ, but have you actually thought about your neighbor? Do you turn your head in disgust when you see someone in trouble, perhaps because of their own folly and inappropriate behaviour you think they deserve what they have gotten?  Do you think that because they have lived a less than holy lifestyle (by your standards) that they somehow deserve punishment, disease, an unwanted pregnancy, bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce, or whatever else...and that therefore you are not required to assist them in any way?  After all, it's their own fault they got into this mess, so let them suffer? And even if that was a good reason,(which I am not saying it is or isn't...may GOD be the judge) what excuse can you give for your inactivity when the injured or sick person IS a good Christian by all standards, and through no fault of their own they are suffering from a dread disease, divorce, bankruptcy, loss of a dear loved one,  etc.

I am just as guilty of this as the person sitting next to me in church on a typical Sunday morning.  We have all come short in reaching out to our neighbors with the love and compassion of Christ.  I know I have failed in this many times. So what can I do about it?  How can I change?  Maybe first of all by praying and repenting of this sin of omission, asking forgiveness, and then asking God to open my eyes to the lost and hurting all around me.  They aren't just people "out there" somewhere...many of them are right next to us...at work, at church, even in our own families.
Link to "Give Me Your Eyes"    "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath is a song that expresses a lot of what I am trying to say today..."Give Me Your Eyes" for just one second...

Lord...Let me see the people around me the way YOU see them...those right here in my own family, my neighborhood, my office, my church...help me Lord, not just to see them, but to reach out to them in love...YOUR love, Your compassion, Your heart, Your arms...Your eyes.... and forgive me for all the times I've turned my eyes away, crossed over to the other side of the road, and ignored their cries for help.  And thank you, Lord, for all the people You have sent my way in my time of need...for those who didn't ignore your promptings and who came to my rescue.  Thank you Lord, for total strangers  who oftentimes were the ones who cared the most.  Bless them Lord today...and help me to be a blessing to those You send my way.
Amen.