Part One
Part Two

Not only does He redeem whatever I mess up, but He actually LIKES to! I see you raising your eyebrows thinking I might be kidding but I could not be more serious. GOD has an intense desire to restore us and make all things right! How do I know that? Look at the example of the father in the story of the prodigal son.

Luke 15:20-24 (ESV)
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

This is such a beautiful illustration of our Father, God. Okay, so not only was the Father waiting and watching for his son, longing for him to return… but when he finally DID see him, he ran and embraced him. Let me paint you a picture: the father didn’t stand at the door and wait for the son to come to him with his tail between his legs begging for forgiveness! No! The Bible says the father saw him when he was still a long way off! Here’s something I had never seen or thought of before: there was absolutely NO WAY the father could have seen the expression on his son’s face or have known the attitude of his heart BEFORE he took off in a sprint and embraced him! The son could have been coming back with the ugliest of attitudes thinking he was entitled to get more from his father, coming home to demand another handout. But the father didn’t care! Even before the son finished reciting his rehearsed repentance speech, the father interrupted him and called for his servants to quickly start the celebration. Can’t you just picture the delight and joy he had in restoring to his son all that the son himself had thrown away: robe, ring, shoes, fatted calf, feast, party, sonship, inheritance, life! Can you not see the Father’s desire to do that exact same thing for you?

What about Zephaniah 3:17 (GW)
“The Lord your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with His love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.”

How can you read this verse and not smile? Friends, does this verse describe a Father that is irritated or annoyed with us when we mess up? Do you think it is a chore (a complete bother) for Him to forgive you, to renew you, to make you right? Do you feel like sometimes you are just creating more work for Him? Look at that verse again! This time let’s read it in a different version, the living Bible:

“For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; He will love you and not accuse you.” Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord Himself exulting over you in happy song.”

Does that not flood your heart with joy? When you sin, repent, and then allow Him to renew you, He’s so giddy and excited that HE ACTUALLY BREAKS OUT IN SONG! He ain’t singing who let the dogs out, don’t go breaking My heart, or oops, she did it again! He is singing JOYFUL, HAPPY songs! Why? Because He is delighted in you!

Psalm 18:19 (HCSB)
“He brought me out to a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

Part Four