Written by Luke —
Training camp was about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I want to share some things that impacted me during that week.
I could say a lot about the challenges we had, the strange foods, or the uncomfortable sleeping conditions, but I'd rather tell you the things I learned about God. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on God, since I've been a Christian the majority of my life. I've never had a hard time understanding the role of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives. I find it easy to connect Jesus as my Savior and the one who died to take the punishment for my sins. But the truth that's always been difficult to connect in my mind is God as a Father. I've always seen God as a judge sitting on a throne, waiting to condemn us for the sins we've committed. I believe that I'm viewed as forgiven by God, because of what Jesus did on the cross, but still to see him as a loving father-figure was hard to understand. I've always felt as though his love was somewhat conditional, and I've had to live a life that will be pleasing to him, for him to accept me. It has placed a lot of guilt on my shouldersand has resulted in a lot of shame, that I am not living a life that's worthy of his love.
For me, training camp challenged my view of God as a father. As we worshipped as a group and people prayed over me, God began to open up my eyes to see that His love is truly unconditional. He is actually the one that pursued me in the first place. I had always thought that Jesus was the one who pursued me, not God the Father. Then I came across these verses in John, where Jesus is explaining by what authority he is ministering.
"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his father doing, because whatever the father does the son also does." John 5:19
Through this I realized it wasn't Jesus that came to set me free by his own choice, he was only doing what God the father wanted Him to do, in order for me to be in relationship with Him. This means that God loved me before I knew him, He loves me now, and He will love me no matter what. I began to see that I can go on this World Race, love as many people as possible, but nothing I do can change the amount of love that God already has for me. I can't work for His acceptance, His acceptance is already there and waiting for me to trust in it. Not enough good works are going to get me closer to God. In my mind, I thought I already understood this, but I guess I really didn't.
So, I go. I go knowing that I am loved by Him, and He will love me unconditionally as a dad loves his son. I go as an unworthy son, but one that will always be deeply loved and pursued by his heavenly father!
One last little thought…
You are probably familiar with the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible. If not, here is a quick overview:
a son goes to his father, asks for his inheritance, and leaves to go live a life of self-indulgence and sin. His father gives him the money, which he then blows and ends up poor and starving. He decides to come crawling back to his father's farm where he hopes to work as a servant, where at least he will be fed.
The important part is this: Luke 15:20-24 "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate'. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Let this version or view replace yours and mine of God as an angry judge. This is the God of the Bible. One that would take us back irregardless of what we've done. He just longs for us to accept His love and be with Him. We are loved whether we accept it or deserve it.
