where waves grow sweet

A friend of mine with four kids and an incredibly busy family schedule shared a couple stories about her 12 year old son, Riley, this week that made me smile…

He had been dropped off at his house by a friend’s mom, who waited in the car while he stood knocking at the front door. His teenage brother, the only one home at the time, was in the shower and couldn’t hear the knocking. Eventually the waiting mom called Riley’s mom to figure out how to get the locked-out kid inside. She was told with a bit of a giggle that the door was unlocked and he could just walk right in.

Another evening, my friend had left dinner on the counter for Riley. When she got home, he said he had eaten… but the meal she’d left him was untouched. When asked about it, he said that he had figured it was for someone else and foraged for his own food in the fridge.

I could so easily see myself responding the same in both scenarios, which is probably why I was tickled, but it also got me thinking about a bigger picture. There are some who have stood by the door, longing for entrance into “home” with all of its joy, connectedness, provision and safety. Maybe this has been you; standing on the doorstep, knocking, waiting, wanting to go in. Maybe no one answered and you thought it was locked. But let me joyfully tell you that this home was meant for you and you belong in this family. The door is open and His name is Jesus. There are many houses you can enter at any point in time, but you won’t be able to enter your home – where you truly belong – unless you believe in His name and are saved into His family (John 10:9).

He carried all your shame and sin and loneliness and pride in his broken body on the cross so that you could have life and have it abundantly; so that you could enter in, no longer standing on the doorstep. All this he has done for you, so don’t continue to walk by thinking it’s for someone else while you go foraging for your own meager portion. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9) I hope you will walk through that door, join your family and hear a booming “welcome home!”

A prayer to confess your need for Jesus could go something like this:

Heavenly Father, I come to you asking for the forgiveness of my sins. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is your Son, and that He died on a Cross at Calvary, that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven.

I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my sins and will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am born again and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6)