Return to the Love of the Father - Barriers to Mission

When I was young, I imagined God like a giant in heaven, looking down on me with His finger pointing at me and all of the wrong I did. He was not pleased.

It’s a picture of joyless religion, rather than experiencing a relationship with Jesus.*

Perhaps as a result of that distorted picture, I absolutely couldn’t look at my sin. I determined I was a good girl and thought that, for the most part, I indeed was good.

Yet the Lord makes it clear: “There is no one righteous, not even one…..There is no one who does good, not even one…..For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:10, 12b, 23)

Then I encountered the Living Jesus. 

​Now my picture has changed.

It has been 28 years since the summer I stood before a room of students and confessed that I would no longer live for myself, but for Jesus.

After all that time I am finally beginning to grasp, if even a little, the great, unfathomable, matchless love of the Father for me…and for you.

I always used to think the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-31), was about the son. Now I understand that it is all about the Father.

The son basically told his father he wished he were dead, took his inheritance, and left. He squandered everything. Poor, hungry, and humbled, he returns to his father in repentance.

Repentance – oh the action which transforms and brings life! To humbly turn from something (sinful) and toward the One who forgives.

What has you blocked today? What is the barrier preventing you from moving forward in your mission?

Could it be pride, like it so often is for me? 

Or perhaps unforgiveness, lack of prayer, fear, doubt, worry, temptation, self-glory, lack of faith, self-reliance, distraction, or giving up. (Unfortunately, this isn’t an exhaustive list.)

Any of these could be barriers to your life and mission.

Simply pray: “Lord, please reveal to me what sin I have tolerated in my life.”

When He shows you, repent, and return to the Father.

My daughter drew a picture of God in orange crayon. His face is bright with a large smile on His face and His arms open wide.

The picture says it all, “I love you. I am delighted that you are mine.”

“But while he (the prodigal son) was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

This is my new picture of the Father: watching, waiting for your return, smile on His face, full of compassion, arms open wide, running to embrace you and welcome you home.

Loved.

My sin, your sin, is a barrier to the love and embrace of the Father. It is a barrier to the mission He’s called you to and the life to the full He came to give you.

Yet you don’t need to be afraid to bring your sin to your Father. He loves you.

Repent. Return.

Receive the love of the Father.
​
Then get back on mission from that place of love. 
​

© Sanctuary of Home™ All Rights Reserved

*Credit for this idea to Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible, https://openthebible.org/
All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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