Overwhelmed

I went on a mission trip to Mexico before my senior year of High School.  On this mission, I felt led to full time ministry.  This trip also opened my eyes to God's overwhelming love.  A song was sung in worship called 'Overwhelmed.'  It speaks of our nothing-ness compared to God, yet He still loves us.  I have not heard this song anywhere else, yet I still can sing the entire song.  The song came to mind as I read in Luke 15 today.

The first insight gained stems from the Father's restraint when the son asks for his inheritance.  We have all heard from our pastors this request tells the father, his son wants him dead.  We often overlook the normal cultural response to this request.  If an event like this were to occur, the father would have full right to smack his son around, and banish him from the village or community.  Yet, in the parable Jesus tells, the father does not respond this way.

The second insight develops out of mid-eastern inheritance laws.  If a father were to divide his land between his sons, those sons would not be able to give away the full rights of the land until their father has passed away.  Nor can the buyer build upon or farm the land until the father dies.  The only way the younger son could have sold the land and gathered the monetary profit from it would be if his father suddenly gave up his right to that land.

These two insights provide a glimpse of God's love for us.  As we sin, we say to God, "I don't care about you, and quite frankly, I wish you were dead."  God has full right and authority to condemn us to an eternal punishment.  God could also say we have no right to mess with His creation, therefore, you do not have the power to go against my will.  As we look at the Father's response to His son, and God's response to us, we see a love that goes beyond our ability to understand.  This love overwhelms us.

I have acquired first hand experience of this love.  It surrounded me completely, and brought me to my knees in complete shock.  Acceptance of God's love becomes difficult as we bring our stories and our pasts into the equation.  God does not hold our pasts over our heads; He cares for our futures, and what we will do with the knowledge of His son. 

How about you?  How have you responded to God's overwhelming love?

In His service, Crazy Pete