Today, I would like an opportunity to boast about how patient God is! Let’s look in the Book of Nehemiah, chapter 9 verses 16-21…
“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love.
You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies. But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.”
Just reading this tiny bit of scripture shows us how amazingly patient God is with us! Despite our failures, our stubbornness, our pride…etc, He is always ready to forgive and bring us back. I would annihilate and smite everyone who disobeyed me! … That is why He is God, and I am not….Amen?
Or, we can take a look at the parable of The Prodigal Son…
To paraphrase the story ~ there was a young son of a rich man who, by his own free will…chose to leave his home, and take his inheritance with him. He wanted to live life on his terms…he wanted to live as he pleased. At first, he threw around his money left and right and lived wildly, thinking nothing can stop him from his party lifestyle. It didn’t take long before the tables turned…he lost all of his money, all of his friends, and all of his dignity. He decided to humble himself, and go back home. This story is in Luke 15. Let’s pick up on verse 20…
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.”
But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
What an awesome story! God’s love is constant, patient, and welcoming. He will search for us and give us chance after chance to come to Him. But He is a gentleman…He won’t force Himself on anyone. We all have freewill.
Are you trying to live life your way, pushing aside any responsibility or commitment that gets in the way? It often takes great sorrow or tragedy to cause people to look at the only One who can help them. Like the father in this parable, God waits patiently for us to come to our senses.