70 times 7
I’d like to think that one of the biggest things affecting my relationship with God is not really, REALLY understanding him. Neither can I. But most of the time I re-act to God based on assumptions that God works like another Human.
For example, I’m a prodigal son, repeat offender. I was trying to picture the whole thing… first time I run away and come back and there He is dropped everything and ran to me and welcomed me back home. I stay a while, enjoy the party and am on my best behaviour. A couple of months go by, I run away again, come back… ok, second time… not so bad… He runs to meet me again.. same thing third time around, He is sitting inside and someone tells Him that I’m coming back home again.. what does He do.. does he say.. “O.K… he’ll come in…” and continue doing whatever He was doing…?
It is difficult to fathom, for me that He would do that over and over again without getting tired. It is difficult because I look at God with my human filter. Because of my perception of God and not understanding Him, I sometimes when am half way down the road back home thinking “This is the 40th time now… surely He is not going to accept me, He must be tired of me” and turn and walk away.
Thats where I’m at. But am learning that if Jesus asked us to forgive 70 times 7, then that’s something that He does. Learning dependence and not trying to comprehend God’s ways, it’s mysterious, when He says His ways are mysterious, I think He jokingly meant, don’t try to figure me out you will not get it.