Standing with God (part 3)

 
  The third thing I think we can definitely know that God stands for is that he always wants what is best for us.  How could we call him a loving God if he didn't want what was best for us?  No matter how many times the Hebrew people strayed, God loved them and called them back to him.  Even when he punished them it was so that they would repent and return to him (see Jeremiah 29:11; 31:3).  Loving parents correct their children when they are wrong; we can expect no less from God, the perfect parent. Unlike our human parents, he makes no mistakes in dealing with us.  We can trust that what he does is absolutely the best for us.
  Yet, many people with whom I pray seem to be afraid to approach God, to listen to God.  They are afraid that he will criticize, scold or condemn.  The overwhelming evidence of the New Testament, though, is that he will be gentle.  Take the case of the woman accused of adultery (John 8:1-11).  Though she was guilty, Jesus did not condemn her.  He simply said, Go and sin no more.  Or the woman at the well (John 4).  This woman had not led an exemplary life.  But Jesus' conversation with her, wherein he "told her everything she ever did", did not leave her condemned or chastised.  Rather she was energized and went exclaiming to the whole town to come and see.
  I repeat:  Jesus wants what is best for us because he loves us.  It is a truth we can surely stand on with him.  We need not fear spending time with him, or talking with him, or listening to him, because God is love (1 John 4:7-12).  He has our best interests at heart.
  For Reflection:  Have we been avoiding time with God out of fear of what he might say?
 Let us pray.  Lord Jesus, we take courage from your interactions with the women in the Scriptures.  We need not fear you, nor doubt you, nor mistrust you. You love us.  You always want what is best for us.

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