With outstretched arms

You know, how many times have we seen a religious image of Christ, perhaps floating in the clouds, or superimposed over a church steeple, with his arms outstretched, as if beckoning us to Him? It is indeed a beautiful and inspirational picture, isn't it? The Saviour of the world, calling us to Him, perhaps longing for our embrace, longing to tell us that He loves us and has been waiting for us to "come home." Well, I must confess that despite the beauty of that image, I in my mind sometimes in the past would dismiss this image as being too "melodramatic;" merely artist's renderings put out for dramatic effect and a little emotional manipulation on the side.

However, In a recent jaunt through Romans, I discovered Paul also paints this image of God. In Romans 10, a passage where he is essentially quoting much of Isaiah, he makes reference to Gentiles that the Lord had revealed himself to, and compares this with the way he has reavealed Himself to Israel, His chosen, by saying in v.21:

But to Israel he says: All day long I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people. (HCSB, emphasis mine)

Other translations use the phrase "open arms" or "stretched...hands," but the meaning is still the same. God does stand with open arms, ALL DAY LONG scripture says, waiting for us to come to Him (or return to Him, for that matter). So, perhaps the images we see of the beckoning deity are not that far off from reality afterall.

- submitted as newsletter article on 8-15-06

A true definition of GRACE

I found a very neat scripture today that speaks well a true definition of grace. In my latest goal of rereading the book of ROMANS, I stumbled upon chapter 4:4-5, which says:

Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

You know, I love receieving a salary. I''m sure you do too. Although once I receieve my check, it's usually spoken for from various providers of service: power company, mortgage company, credit card, etc. I'm sure you can relate. Even though my "job" as a minister is a little different than most, it's still nice to be able to pay the bills with "compensation for my time." However, whether you work in an uptown Charlotte skyscraper or in a factory, we can all agree that there are some weeks we feel like we DESERVE that check.

God's system is a little different.

In this passage, I really like the way Paul explains grace vs. works. We know that grace is undeserved, but freely given without expectation of repayment. If our faith was based on works: us doing something for God, heaven and salvation would be nothing more than God signing a paycheck. God does not owe us anything, as a later passage in Romans 11:35 emphasizes.

Well, I'm off to "work," not to my job for a paycheck, but my job for the KINGDOM.