Hello,
Today we see Our Father’s plan for reconciliation and homecoming for all, I’m so thankful that! One weekend in April 1983 I went to Newcastle to go to out with friends night clubbing.  On my way there I met a group of people on the street offering hot chocolate and a chat.  They asked me what I believed about God.  After that for some reason I didn’t want to go to the club anymore and went back to my cousin’s home early.  The next morning I decided to visit the church and went along.  The girl who spoke with me was there and welcomed me.  We had coffee and muffins as the service began which back in the 80’s was revolutionary!
We talked again and she gave me a book telling the story of a woman whose life was transformed from drug addict to meeting Jesus in prison.  On my way back home the train broke down and a bus replacement service provided.  I was reading the book on the bus and the girl next to me started to excitedly share her own story of meeting Jesus only 6 months earlier.  She encouraged me to talk to God and ask him to show me he is real.  As I went to bed I did that.  The next day I went to work, a small office of the town newspaper in Keswick and when lunch time came as usual went to have lunch at my aunts house.  As I walked along the street I heard a voice urging me to knock on a certain door of a large house across the road.  Thinking there were others behind me, I turned, but the street was empty.  Disorientated and feeling fearful, I carried on to my aunts.  When I arrived she was preparing to leave for an appointment, so I ate lunch alone, thinking about all that had happened in the last 3 days.  I didn’t understand and decided to return to work early.  As I walked along the street I came again to the large house.  There was no voice, however I found myself literally crossing the street and ringing the doorbell.  A lady answered and I remembered her from my teenage years working Saturday’s in a green grocery.  “Helen” came on occasions to make special flower arrangements.  She said, “its Karen isn’t it”  Suddenly tearfully I blurted out, “I think I need to be a christian.”  Helen it turned out shared her home with her sister who was married to the pastor of a church.  Helen worked with young people in the town.  She invited me in, however I really did have to return to work so we agreed to meet the following afternoon when I had a half day.  She gave me a leaflet to take with questions to consider and at the back a prayer that showed me how I could talk to God and invite Jesus into my life.  All afternoon I was restless in my work and couldn’t wait to go home, to my room and read the booklet.  Something I didn’t understand was happening inside.  I felt excited.  I read how God loved me and gave Jesus to die in my place and give me the gift of life with him, a friend who would never leave me.  I was aware of many things in my life I felt ashamed or guilty about and as the thoughts came I gave each one to Jesus, thanking him for taking my place, thanking him for His forgiveness.  I remember saying I wanted to give my life to him, but only if He was not boring and life with him was not boring!  He graciously came into my life, a humility I didn’t yet know swallowing my arrogance!  I felt His presence, I was no longer alone.  I was washed in peace.  A huge energy soared inside, so much that I simply had to do something, so I went for a walk into the sunny spring evening.

Photo Karen Way “The Tabernacle of the Nations is a house of prayer in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

The Prophet Zechariah spoke to God’s people more than 500 years before Jesus was born.

 

Zechariah 2v10-13 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
 
“The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.
Zechariah means, God has remembered.  His name and this message of promised reconciliation must have brought great hope and comfort to the Jews slowly returning to their city after years of war and exile.
John’s Gospel says  1v14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
When Jesus came, He was born as one of us, and lived among us.  He fulfilled the promise of Zechariah for us all, showing us the love and presence of God.
 
As Jesus prepared to die for us He made us this amazing promise 
John 14v23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Jesus came and obeyed the Father completely even in His death.  Their plan to rescue us was so costly, yet in the moment that Jesus died the temple curtain that separated the people from God was torn from top to bottom, 

Jesus has brought us right into the presence of God;  We’re reconciled!  We’re home!

Since my first homecoming, I’ve had many more!  I’ve lost count of the times Jesus has met me in dark, barren broken places and enfolded me in His love, full of forgiveness, wiping away lies, speaking truth, and as He always does bringing me to the Father’s heart, to safety, peace and acceptance. My life literally shouts and rejoices in the one who has made room in His heart for me and brought me home.

It’s good to remember times when God brought us home, so take a moment to do that now.  What thoughts and feelings does that stir in your heart?  
Turn them into words of thanks and praise for who He is to you.
 
Perhaps reading this stirs your heart with longing for a part that needs to know the love of Jesus, and the comfort and acceptance of Our Father’s arms and heart.  If so take a step and tell Jesus how you feel and give him permission to bring you home again.

 

 
Soak in this profound truth that we are home.  ‘Home’  Written and sung by Laura Woodley.
Posted in Advent Reflection, Devotions, Heart to Heart, Legacy and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,