I've spent a bit of time over this last month, praying through Ramadan, praying for precious friends here who still don't know the Lord - many of whom insist that the Allah they worship really isn't that different from the Gracious Creator and Redeemer I serve...
Mighty God
The great I Am
Immovable Rock
Omnipotent powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious Warrior
Commanding King of Kings
Mighty Conqueror
And the only time
The only time I ever saw Him run...
Was when He ran to me
Took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said, My son's come home again
Looked in my face
Wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said, Son, Do you know I still love you?
He caught me my surprise
When God ran
The day I left home
I know I'd broken His heart
I wondered if
Things could ever be the same
Then one night...
I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road
Ahead I could see...
It's the only time
The only time I ever saw Him run
When He ran to me
Took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said, My son's come home again
Looked in my face
Wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said, Son,
Do you know I still love you?
He caught me my surprise
He brought me to my knees
When God ran
I saw Him run to me...
And then I ran to Him
Holy One
Righteous Judge
He turned my way
Now I know He's been waiting for this day
And then He ran to me
Took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said, My son's come home again
Looked in my face
Wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
I felt His love for me again
He ran to me
Took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said, My son's come home again
Looked in my face
Wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said, Son
He said, Son
My Son, Do you know I still love you?
Ohhh, He ran to me
When God ran
Allah may be the god they seek to serve - but he would never run; he would never undignify himself (as it would be seen in this mindset) to run to welcome back one who had rebelled against or turned their back on him.
Could there be a more striking difference? The God of the Bible isn't ashamed, in His extravagant and gracious love, to reach out to those He loves in ways that than might deem "undignified...," drawing them to Himself. But the Bible teaches over and over that this is who God is: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men..." This month of Ramadan has been a good reminder to pray diligently that our friends and neighbors will see a glimpse of our God who longs to run to them... if they will but lift their heads and take a simple step in His direction...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Return of the Prodigal Son"
by English painter James Tissot, 1862
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