Open Arms
I recently got to spend time with some very close friends. We don't get to be together a whole lot since we're now in 3 different states, but they're the kind of friends that we pick up right where we left off. It wasn't too long before we started bringing up old stories, one of which was my infamous car wreck.
My best friend Stephanie and I spent time together shopping and hanging one summer day before our senior year started, and decided to go to a Christian bookstore. We were in a city that I normally didn't drive around in, but I thought I was pretty sure I knew where I was going. We weren't in a huge hurry, so even after 45 minutes of not finding it, we weren't too worried. Then, suddenly, I found myself in the middle of a wreck. I apparently had run a red light (I still don't remember seeing it) and a car (who had the right of way) turned into me. Stephanie often likes to remind me that I "almost killed her," since it was the passenger side that got hit. And I kindly remind her that she "almost killed me" once as well, since we had our own incident due to her driving, but that's a story for another day.
We laugh hysterically about it now, because by the time the excitement of it had died down and our car was safely off the road and the other driver (who was way too gracious to me) was on his way, we found ourselves in the parking lot of none other than the bookstore we had spent so much time driving around to find, and had I managed to stop at that red light, we would have been there moments later.
I still remember calling my dad to let him know I had wrecked the car. Never for one second did he sound upset but simply asked if I was okay and said he'd be there as soon as he could to see if he could get the car home. I was so nervous when I saw his car pull into that parking lot. But when he stepped out of the car his arms were outstretched as he walked towards me and embraced me in a huge hug.
I often remind myself of that moment when thinking about approaching my Heavenly Father when I've done something wrong or stupid. When I call on Him, admit what I've done, His response is like my dad's. He longs to embrace me and fix the mess I've made. Sure, there are consequences for my actions, just like I had to spend my senior year driving a car with proof my accident on the side, we often bear the scars of sin. But we have a Father who is loving, and who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to Him.
I've imagined what it would have been like had I tried to hide the accident from my father. There's no way he wouldn't have noticed the damage to the car. As ridiculous as that would have been it's just as ridiculous to try to hide my sin from my Abba Father, for He knows what I've done and longs for me to come to Him when I've "wrecked the car." There's no reason to approach the throne of grace afraid, because it is a throne of GRACE.
And when we find ourselves there broken over our sins, we are met with open arms.
Emily
My best friend Stephanie and I spent time together shopping and hanging one summer day before our senior year started, and decided to go to a Christian bookstore. We were in a city that I normally didn't drive around in, but I thought I was pretty sure I knew where I was going. We weren't in a huge hurry, so even after 45 minutes of not finding it, we weren't too worried. Then, suddenly, I found myself in the middle of a wreck. I apparently had run a red light (I still don't remember seeing it) and a car (who had the right of way) turned into me. Stephanie often likes to remind me that I "almost killed her," since it was the passenger side that got hit. And I kindly remind her that she "almost killed me" once as well, since we had our own incident due to her driving, but that's a story for another day.
We laugh hysterically about it now, because by the time the excitement of it had died down and our car was safely off the road and the other driver (who was way too gracious to me) was on his way, we found ourselves in the parking lot of none other than the bookstore we had spent so much time driving around to find, and had I managed to stop at that red light, we would have been there moments later.
I still remember calling my dad to let him know I had wrecked the car. Never for one second did he sound upset but simply asked if I was okay and said he'd be there as soon as he could to see if he could get the car home. I was so nervous when I saw his car pull into that parking lot. But when he stepped out of the car his arms were outstretched as he walked towards me and embraced me in a huge hug.
I often remind myself of that moment when thinking about approaching my Heavenly Father when I've done something wrong or stupid. When I call on Him, admit what I've done, His response is like my dad's. He longs to embrace me and fix the mess I've made. Sure, there are consequences for my actions, just like I had to spend my senior year driving a car with proof my accident on the side, we often bear the scars of sin. But we have a Father who is loving, and who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to Him.
I've imagined what it would have been like had I tried to hide the accident from my father. There's no way he wouldn't have noticed the damage to the car. As ridiculous as that would have been it's just as ridiculous to try to hide my sin from my Abba Father, for He knows what I've done and longs for me to come to Him when I've "wrecked the car." There's no reason to approach the throne of grace afraid, because it is a throne of GRACE.
And when we find ourselves there broken over our sins, we are met with open arms.
Emily
Labels: Emily
posted by Missy at
12:01 AM
1 Comments:
What a great visual of how the Father loves us!
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