By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise…He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready.We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.(Romans 5:1-2;7 TM)
Sunday, Anna and I had a rough day of it. We had been traveling over the weekend, she had not had a nap in a couple of days, and late nights made for a very ill 3 year old. Even taking this into consideration, she was in her rare form. Antagonistic to her sister and us, pee-pee “accidents” 3 times over the course of the day, and tantrums of destruction. I had come to my end by Sunday evening, and when we got home made her take a little nap, and an early bedtime was in her near future. (This all being for me to have a break more than anything.) Before leaving the room I told her “I love you, but your behavior today was unacceptable. And you really need to think how you can do better. ok?”
She said yes.
After some downtime,she came into the kitchen where I was. She reached her arms up to me and said nothing. I lifted her up into my arms at which point she wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed as hard as she could. “Mommy, I always love you.” She said. “I know baby, and no matter what I always, love you.” In that moment all of the day had gone away. And I felt these words. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
See, Anna is 3 years old. She is, by nature, selfish and self-seeking. By nature every child and infant, though maybe innocently, is selfish and demanding. Wanting what they want, when they want it, and will cry, scream, and make your life miserable if necessary until they get it. But you love them anyway. There is this strange emotion and pull that comes over a mother when a child cries out in the middle of the night. Yes, it may get old and tiring, but ultimately we love them too much to ignore them. And why? Have they done anything to prove their love for you? Have they poured into your life anything besides their existence? Have they proven or made their selves deserving of your unconditional love? No. But yet, even on the worst of days it only takes a hug around the neck, and an “I love you” to melt away everything.
How many mothers have grown children who have cut them with their words, or embarrassed them with their actions? Yet that parent will be there as soon as that child says “Mom I need you”.
How much more is God’s love to you and me? How much more? While we were yet sinners…. He saw beyond the sin to the “I love you daddy” on the other end, and it was all worth it to Him. All He really needs and wants from you today, no matter what you have done or walked through, is to reach your arms up to Him, crawl into His arms, wrap yourself around Him and say “I Love You Daddy” and everything else melts away.
Nice post Angel.