He Has Set His Affection On Us

Salvation - a FREE gift from God

I’m in the middle of a book about grace and my heart is filled to the brim. This book goes through the book of Romans to give a greater understanding of grace, salvation and the different responses to grace. There are the hedonists, judgmentalists and legalists. The first disregards God, the second seeks to distract God, and the third hopes to reimburse God. However, each one misses God. 

As I read this book I am reminded of an encounter I had earlier this year. 

Growing up in the church I’ve learned about Jesus, the cross, salvation and grace for years. Yet, in my unbelief I still thought I had to do things for Jesus to love me. I would be like the third person - the legalist, believing I need to reimburse God, if not in full at least a little something. 

During the first week of my discipleship training school, the topic was The Father’s Heart. Going through numerous passages we studied the Father and his heart towards his children. Through Scripture we read numerous examples of how the Father responds to us. 

He searches carefully for us. 

He leaves the 99 to find us. 

He runs to greet us with a hug and a kiss.

He gives us a robe, ring and sandals - restoring us. 

He throws a party for us. 

He calls his friends to rejoice with him. 

He rejoices over us and sings over us. 

For the first time ever, my heart began to actually begin to get it. This extravagant love the Father has for us. The fact that He not only loves me, but he likes me!

In a time of reflection, He asked me a question.

“Ashlea, are you done climbing?” 

In that moment, I see myself climbing this endless rock wall. There was no top to it. No end in sight. My climbing was my striving. My attempts and efforts to do enough. To be good enough for Him. 

But I look down and there He is. 

At the bottom. 

Not the top. 

And this is how it is. God is at the bottom. Before we ever do a single thing for Him he loves us immensely. He puts the robe, ring and sandals on us before we do anything. 

In my vision He cups my face, and in reality one of the staff girls had come over to pray for me and she cups my face simultaneously. She says over and over again,

“You must know.”

“You must know.”

“Ashlea, you must know.”

And yes, we must. We must know the love of the Father. He waits for you at the bottom, not the top. Stop the striving and simply receive. 

“All need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God gave him as a way to forgive sin through faith in the blood of Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-25, emphasis mine)

28 September 2011 ·

• Tags
• prodigal son
• father's heart
• salvation