Precious Children

1 John 3:1(NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Do you know you have a Father in heaven who desires you, created you, and wants to spend time with you? A holy Father who loves you for who you are, loves you in spite of who you are or in spite of what you’ve done. He’s there, ready and waiting with open arms, calling you back to him each and every day.  It’s a beautiful picture of a Father, waiting for the prodigal child to return home. Calling out every moment, searching for you on the horizon.   Calling out your name, urging you to come home.

You know, God sees you, truly sees you. And desires us all to return to him.  Sometimes we feel like we’ve done to many shameful things, we’re not good enough, how could God ever love us.  Or maybe we think we need to clean up our act before we come to him, “pretty” ourselves up, bury the past, resolve our addictions, our relationships, or our finances.  Believe it or not, that is not the case.  He takes us where we’re at, desires us to ask forgiveness for the things we’ve done, and repent, walk away from the yuck and walk towards Him.  It is with his mighty power and strength that we are forgiven and can overcome, can change and move forward into a better life.

Jesus is all about rescuing us from our sinful behaviors. He came down from heaven specifically to save you and me.  By showing up, teaching us how to live, and paying the penalty for our sins, so we could live a better way.  A way that leads us to eternal life with him.  Do you know this Jesus? His love so great that he made his dwelling among us.  He left heaven to be on earth so that he could save us from ourselves.  To bring us home to our Father who is waiting with open arms.

This Christmas is a great reminder to look at our lives a little more deeply. To truly look in and see what’s lacking.  It’s also a time to look outside ourselves. Look around you and see how the world is hurting. Groaning for help, whom could you encourage today, who needs a moment of your time? It’s so easy to get swept up in the season and really forgot what it is all about.  It is about a God who calls us by name, loves us deeply, and pursues us daily. We are precious to Him.