Scandalous and merciful love mingles with the unforced rhythms of grace and my soul sings out to God.
As I walk at a pace fast enough to improve my three mile walk time, I am suddenly slowed down by eternal thoughts. A soft breeze engulfs me and gently pushes the hair away from my eyes. I stop and breathe in deeply. I let the fresh morning air fill my lungs before slowly exhaling. I look up. Blue fills the sky as far as I can see. The warm sunshine feels good on my skin. I am, in the moment, content.
"Scandalous, merciful love". Those words from a devotion earlier in the week continue to marinate in my thoughts. God left heaven and came to the earth He created and the people He loved only to be rejected, hated, and killed. He endured death on a cross so we could have free access to heaven. Sometimes; no...OFTEN, the depth of His sacrifice escapes my understanding. As God, He could just demand our love. But then that wouldn't be love, would it.
"Unforced rhythms of grace". The first time a friend shared this phrase with me I must confess the meaning escaped me. I stumbled over it because of my need (some might say addiction) for control. It is a phrase I've had to take, put up on a shelf for a while and then dust it off and reconsider it. I am learning that God's grace is working all around me. All the time. Without exception. In my need to control I often miss seeing it. I am learning to "let go and let God". My responsibility is to respond when I sense God is prompting me. As I learn to live in that type of heart attitude I am seeing glimpses of heaven here on earth. In the midst of storms and challenges, in the calm of the night, yes God is always there.
May you experience God's scandalous and merciful love so deeply that you'll never be the same again.
May you unearth the secret to living in His unforced rhythms of grace.
And, as a result, may you be content in all life's circumstances.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take real rest. Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." - God
