When you grasp who God is-His love, His strength, His beauty, His holiness, and His mercy-you are unafraid to boldly proclaim that you are a child of His. You are bold to declare that you know Him and you will represent Him faithfully, though maybe not perfectly consistently.
You must come face to face with God in order to represent Him, because when you represent Him you will also suffer. Such suffering, though, will not deter one whose eyes have been opened to the magnanimous transcendence of the King of Glory. Who is this King of glory? He is The Lord strong and mighty. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isa 9:8), and no weapon that comes against His children will take root (Isa 54:17). He lifts up those who have been trampled upon, He heals those whose lives are ransacked, and He mends those whose hurts are beyond what doctors can cure. He is all things. Everything. Complete. Supreme. His name is Grace and He wants nothing more than to have fellowship with you.
Can you imagine that God-yes Yahweh, the one who dwells in the heavens-wants to talk with you? He is so determined for you to know Him that He dispatches the Holy Spirit to capture your heart (Rom 5:5). Left to your own devices you would not give Him a second look. He knows that, so He always takes the initiative. He saw you before you ever were, and when you felt you were alone, He was right there. His all-seeing eyes were never off you, not even for a second. When your heart was made tender you responded to Him and He smiled. He placed His hand out toward you and drew you to Himself, the way a husband reaches out and takes his bride at the altar. Only, when God takes you, it is for eternity. He loses none that He takes. His grasp is firm and secure. Jesus said, “…no one whom the Father gives to me will I lose” (John 6:39)
Each day He seeks to direct you, guide you, open doors for you, protect and shield you from the snares of the enemy. When you listen to Him and follow His guidance you find sweet bliss. There is peace in His presence, joy in His fellowship, and hope in His future promises. You lack nothing because you have everything when you have Him. His pursuit is gentle but persistent. His Son died for you so He is determined to free you from death. Sin brings death but Christ brings life. God is light and His Son gives life to all who call upon His name. If you are lonely, call. Sad. Call. Happy. Call. Never stop calling. Should you feel yourself unreachable and your situation unfathomably dark, call. God hears the faintest cry. He holds even the most feeble hand. He is not a bigot and He is not duplicitous. He loves all people-yes, all. He takes you as you are but changes you to become like Him. His love never changes but the way He expresses it will always blow your mind. You will never completely figure Him out. He is too large, too wide, too deep for your mind to fully comprehend. He is breathtakingly beautiful and He loves you.
Dear Lord, we thank you for being so close to us. We feel you as we walk, as we talk, as we pray. Your closeness brings peace. We do not take it lightly for many have never felt your closeness the way we have. We are blessed to know you and we want only to become like you. Chisel us until we are refined. Jesus, when you showcase us before the Father, we want to come forth as pure gold. Keep us from falling Lord, as we await your presentation of us before your Father on that Great Day. Oh Lord, may not the world hold us in its grasp. May we swim against the wave of ingratitude, murmuring, apathy, and unkindness. Help us to consider others better than ourselves and to live our lives in a giving way. In Your sweet name we pray. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
Recommended Reading: When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado