God always reaches out to us

The open arms of God are very real.

The passage (above) from the prophet Isaiah, says a great deal about God and his love for us. As He spoke through the prophet, He expressed his angst at the stubbornness of his people and how He steadily opened his arms wide for them. While He was in their very midst, his people remained stubborn, preferring to walk in their own ways and seeking only their own satisfaction. What a shame it was, that while they could have had everything good in abundance, they preferred pitiful and diminutive pleasures, because it was what THEY wanted. That is what pride is about.

Will we ever learn from this example of history? I sure hope so.

Why do I mention this on our blog? I see something marvelous about the nature of God in this story. Just look and see what impressions you have. What I see is that God takes initiative in reaching out to us, even while we are completely disinterested. In this picture, the people of God certainly don't deserve his love and charity and outreach. Yet, He reaches to them anyhow.

This outreach of God is part of why we reach out to communities and individuals alike. Because God reached to us in his grace, we also reach out to others. Because God expresses his undeserved love to us in this and other ways, we also aim to reveal his love. We mimic Him. When others see us, I want them to see God with his arms open wide for them.

What's more, God reaches out to us before we think of Him. So the idea of us complaining that we don't see Him doing anything to or for us is just unfortunate. Oh, He loves us and provides for us! He always does! And if He ever stopped, we would no longer exist. Change your way of thinking, so that you can consider Him in his constant giving. Oh, how that must inspire gratefulness and thankfulness.

While we work in ministry and missions, we work because God gives. We continue because God never wearies from reaching out to us. I pray that we would always work and enjoy his outreaching for all of our days. May his generosity stir us to great giving and going.