A Grace That Reaches Far

Religion kept me in line and out of trouble but kept me far from ever knowing His father’s heart for me. — Joanna Gaines

The above quote welcomed me in this morning’s early hours, a reminder of a “memory” from my Facebook feed seven years ago. When I saw today’s Five Minute Friday word prompt was “far,” it seemed too coincidental to ignore. 

As I pondered these words seven years further down the road in my journey with God, I contemplated how much more I have embraced Him from the standpoint of an unconditionally loved daughter. 

I concur with Joanna. All those years of striving to gain God’s approval may have kept me from pursuing some hazardous paths, but they also kept me far from understanding His heart of love for me. 

While the God of the universe goes by many monikers, my favorites are Father partnered with Immanuel. Maybe it is because those are the two things I most desire Him to be — a Father who is with me, always. 

As a child, I spent years misunderstanding my earthly father’s love. Often, it seemed conditional at best. Not because it was but because I had a skewed interpretation of it. It was difficult to look past the sometimes harshness of a dad who was human and fallible. Like so many, I carried that misinterpretation into adulthood and, by default, into my relationship with my heavenly Father. 

But God is not fallible nor human. His love is not dependent upon me. It is WHO He is. 

GOD IS LOVE. 

He is patient, kind, and good toward the likes of you and me. And He reveals His love in astounding ways.

This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. – 1 John 4:9

It is not my effort that gained my Father’s love and acceptance. It is His. 

He has already completed the work of my redemption from beginning to end with limitless grace. It is mine to receive it as the wondrous gift it is. And to respond to His love by living through His Spirit placed within me, pursuing integrity and righteousness through the might of His power instead of my own feeble strength that will continually fail. 

It is to call to mind this precious gift of salvation. And to live each day with thankfulness as I lean in close to a Father who is with me always — just because I am His. 

Once more, I purpose to let my “less than” be consumed by Father’s “greater than” as I rest in a grace that sought me when I was far from Him. To let my weaknesses fall by the wayside as I rejoice in the strength of the One who drew me near. 

All because of a love for me that knows no end.  

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near
through the blood of Christ.
– Ephesians 2:13

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
– Ephesians 2:4-10

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This post is written in conjunction with https://fiveminutefriday.com/2024/01/25/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-far/ Teaming up with an online group of writers who encourage others to share the words God has given them. The gist is to write for five minutes on a one-word prompt, then post your writing and link up with others who do the same — no overthinking, no deep editing, just free-writing in a short amount of time.