“I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’” Hosea 2:23; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. Isa. 65:1; “Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness…. shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:11.
Heavenly Father, these passages in Hosea, Isaiah, and Jonah tell our story. We are the ones who had no claim on your love, or place in your family. Until you generously gave us both.
Your mercy and grace are the only explanation. We are prone to wander, but you are a committed finder. We are quick to sin, but you are mighty to save. We want to call down fire on our “enemies,” but you pour out grace on your ever-growing, every-nation family.
Forgive us when we think of our sins as monochromatic in a world of Technicolor sinners. Forgive us when we view our need for grace as vanilla, compared to the jalapeno-spicy-ness of other people’s failings.
Worse, forgive us, when like Jonah, there are people groups (Ninevites) we’d rather you destroy than redeem. Give us bigger Gospel-hearts, global-mission passion, and next-door-neighbor love. In Christ, it’s never “us-versus-them”; but always, You for all of us.
Our hope is built on nothing less, nothing more, and nothing other than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. May we live and love to your glory. So very Amen we pray, with worship, love and awe, in Jesus’ name.