Justin Tucker, LHBC Worship Pastor
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
This morning as I was still laying in bed, trying to get the fog to lift from an incredibly good night of sleep, our middle daughter climbed up into our bed and cuddled up next to me. It was one of those times where she wasn’t shrieking or fighting with her sisters, she wasn’t whining or crying, she wasn’t bringing her list of hostage negotiation demands to me…she just wanted to rest in my presence. She just wanted to be near her daddy and feel safe. You know, in my short stint as a father, I’ve learned more about the love of God than in the 33 years of living that I wasn’t a dad. I’ve learned the difference between carrying my wants and needs to the Lord and wanting and needing to be with the Lord. As a dad (and a son), I can relate to the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. The dad worked hard, had some success, and his son broke his heart when he asked for his inheritance and left home to live a wild life. But then the day comes where the son returns home, broken, and the father sees him in the distance and runs to him, puts a cloak on his back, a ring on his finger, and throws a party. I’ve been on both sides of this story, I’ve been a son to an earthly father that needed forgiveness and restoration and I’ve been a dad that needed to lift up my girls when they’ve messed up or failed.
I’ve learned that the love that I have for my kids, even when they have royally messed up, pales in comparison to the love that God has for each one of us. I say that because I have dreams of doing things with and for our kids…dreams of taking them to Disney, dreams of leading them to the Lord, nightmares of them dating and learning to drive, dreams of walking them down the aisle to be married. Those are the kinds of things that God gave up when He sent Jesus to be the ransom for our sins. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t give up any of my girls. But He did. That’s just how much He loves us. So, if you’re reading this and you’ve never made a decision to let Jesus be the King of your life…run to Him. If you are broken or beat-up during this pandemic season…run to Him. If you are having anxiety over how you are going to balance virtual school and work and childcare…run to Him. Let’s be humble and say, “God, I don’t have this all figured out but you do and I trust you. I give my fears and worries to you because you are good and your Word says that in Your time, You will lift us above all of this because you care.” I wrote these examples because they are things that are real in my life and I needed a reminder. Like I said, I’ve learned more about God’s love for me through my kids than anywhere else. Thanks for running to me Ellie, so that I would run to Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
God, I don’t have this all figured out but you do and I trust you. I give my fears and worries to you because you are good and your Word says that in Your time, You will lift us above all of this because you care. In Jesus’ name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.