Grace is looking for you.
So often we only think God is interested
in “the good people.” People who have it all together, who resist temptations, people
who never makes mistakes. If your performance is good enough you can expect
God’s goodness. But if you ever get off course, ever fail, ever have doubts,
too bad, it’s your fault.
This leads to the thought, “If you don’t
want me I’ll leave you alone. I won’t bother you.”
The truth is, when you blow it God
doesn’t turn away from you but rather turns to you. His grace comes looking for
you. When you have doubts God doesn’t say, “What’s wrong with you? You need to
have more faith.”
God will even pass over people with
faith to come to you, the one who has doubts. Jesus told a parable about a
shepherd who had a 100 sheep but one of them went astray. The shepherd left the
99 and went looking for the one.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.We tend to write people off, saying or thinking God wouldn't have anything to do with them. They’re living in a wrong kind of life, out there on drugs, drink etc. Do you realize that over half the New Testament was written by a man that at one time hated believers; Saul was the main enemy of the church. He was having believers put into prison. A bright light shined down from heaven and knocked him flat on his back. He heard the voice of Jesus saying, “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?” Long story short Saul became the apostle Paul and wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
-Luke 15:1-7 King James Version
What happened is that grace came looking for Saul.
Don’t ever write anyone off. Your family, your friends maybe they’re making poor choices. It is natural for you to think they will never fulfill their destiny, they’re never going to do what’s right. You have to remember grace is looking for them. You may write them off but God doesn't write them off. God knows how to get their attention. If God can change Saul the greatest enemy of the church, and make him the greatest asset of the church, God can touch your loved ones too. God can turn your family around, God can change your friends. This same man wrote in Romans about the grace God freely gives us. If anyone should understand grace it would be Paul. No matter where you are in your journey God can leave the 99 and come looking for you. You can be discouraged, depressed, about to give up on life. The good news is grace is looking for you, God is saying I’m not even interested in your past I’m interested in your future. It doesn’t matter to God where you have been it matters where you are going. That’s why He’s coming after you, that’s why he won’t leave you alone. His grace will never give up. He loves you too much to let you miss your destiny. You can turn away again and again but you know what grace will keep coming. You can’t out run the grace of God. God’s grace will keep coming saying I got something better forgiveness, mercy, restoration a new beginning if you shake off your guilt, condemnation start making the right choices to honour God. God will do for you in spite of your mistakes. He makes something great out of your life. God never gives up on you, don’t give up on yourself. Receive the grace, believe there’s something great in your future.
God’s grace knows no boundaries, has no limits.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:18 King James Version
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8 King James Version
God will never give up on you; His Grace keeps coming for you!
