Open Arms
“Blessed are they whose
transgressions are forgiven, whose sins
are covered.� Romans 4:7
“7In him we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's
grace 8that he lavished on us with all
wisdom and understanding.�
Ephesians 1:7-8
“Blessed are they whose
transgressions are forgiven, whose sins
are covered.� Romans 4:7
“7In him we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's
grace 8that he lavished on us with all
wisdom and understanding.�
Ephesians 1:7-8
“Hello, old friend. I’m so happy to see you again!� These are words that
all of us long to hear, but we hesitate to reinitiate contact, unsure that those sweet
words will be spoken by that friend with whom we have somehow lost touch. I
know the joy of hearing those words, for I have been blessed with a long-time friend
who greets me with open arms whenever our orbits intersect. She never asks why I
have been out of touch, never assigns blame, and never stews over what I have
missed. Instead, she greets me with a beaming smile, making me feel loved and
accepted despite my shortcomings as she expresses delight in our current time
together. I am treated like a prodigal returning home; the recipient of the grandest of
welcome back parties and the beneficiary of unearned affection freely given.
How could I be so careless with this treasured friendship? I have no acceptable
answers. We were brought together years ago as co-workers at the same school, but
time and circumstances have pulled us in different directions and I have too often
been thoughtless, letting too much time pass between calls. Then, in reaction to my
failing, I let myself get wrapped up in embarrassment and shame over falling out of
touch and I retreat from picking up the phone with my head and heart filled with
regret. “If only she knew how often I think of her and her family,� I whine to
myself, trying to justify my inaction. Yet my misery is both meaningless and a waste
of precious time because these feelings of blame and judgment are self-imposed. In
reality, my dear friend stands faithful and forgiving with her arms wide open, waiting
for my return
When we lose touch with our dearest friend, our Lord and Savior, Jesus, not only
does he welcome us back with open arms when we return, but he seeks us out when
we stray. He knocks on the doors of our hearts and patiently waits for us to invite
him in again. Why do we stray from such love? We are sinful and willful beings and
we are sometimes called far from our faith by a tempting world. Knowing that we
are wandering ever farther from what is right and true; we wrap ourselves in regret
and self-pity and wallow in our self-created wretchedness, somehow forgetting that
we are precious to God. We forget that we are so loved that Jesus gave his blameless
and innocent life to wash away our sins. We lose sight of the forgiveness that is ours,
not because we deserve it, but because we are cherished children of God.
The obvious solution to both these situations is to keep in touch. Pick up the phone,
spend time in prayer, send a card, read your Bible. But we are fallible and flawed and
even our best and most heart-felt intentions will falter and fail. It is then that it is vital
to remember that even though we have failed in our friendships, both earthly and
spiritual, even though we have sinfully strayed from faith; we are still loved, still
cherished, and always forgiven through Jesus. As we are told in John 3:16-17, â
€œFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.�
When we no longer allow ourselves to wallow in a mire of inaction and self-
recrimination and instead open our hearts to belief in Jesus, all of heaven welcomes
us home with loving arms held open. Yesterday is finished and today it is time to set
the past aside and experience the joy of reconnecting.
©2009
Elizabeth Williams
This devotion is dedicated to my dear friend, Cindy Peterson, who is always there for me through thick and thin. A busy wife,
mother, and grandmother, she has (occasionally) been known to absent-mindedly leave the house with mismatched shoes, but her
heart never wanders from her love and belief in her Savior or from her unflagging affection for her friends.
all of us long to hear, but we hesitate to reinitiate contact, unsure that those sweet
words will be spoken by that friend with whom we have somehow lost touch. I
know the joy of hearing those words, for I have been blessed with a long-time friend
who greets me with open arms whenever our orbits intersect. She never asks why I
have been out of touch, never assigns blame, and never stews over what I have
missed. Instead, she greets me with a beaming smile, making me feel loved and
accepted despite my shortcomings as she expresses delight in our current time
together. I am treated like a prodigal returning home; the recipient of the grandest of
welcome back parties and the beneficiary of unearned affection freely given.
How could I be so careless with this treasured friendship? I have no acceptable
answers. We were brought together years ago as co-workers at the same school, but
time and circumstances have pulled us in different directions and I have too often
been thoughtless, letting too much time pass between calls. Then, in reaction to my
failing, I let myself get wrapped up in embarrassment and shame over falling out of
touch and I retreat from picking up the phone with my head and heart filled with
regret. “If only she knew how often I think of her and her family,� I whine to
myself, trying to justify my inaction. Yet my misery is both meaningless and a waste
of precious time because these feelings of blame and judgment are self-imposed. In
reality, my dear friend stands faithful and forgiving with her arms wide open, waiting
for my return
When we lose touch with our dearest friend, our Lord and Savior, Jesus, not only
does he welcome us back with open arms when we return, but he seeks us out when
we stray. He knocks on the doors of our hearts and patiently waits for us to invite
him in again. Why do we stray from such love? We are sinful and willful beings and
we are sometimes called far from our faith by a tempting world. Knowing that we
are wandering ever farther from what is right and true; we wrap ourselves in regret
and self-pity and wallow in our self-created wretchedness, somehow forgetting that
we are precious to God. We forget that we are so loved that Jesus gave his blameless
and innocent life to wash away our sins. We lose sight of the forgiveness that is ours,
not because we deserve it, but because we are cherished children of God.
The obvious solution to both these situations is to keep in touch. Pick up the phone,
spend time in prayer, send a card, read your Bible. But we are fallible and flawed and
even our best and most heart-felt intentions will falter and fail. It is then that it is vital
to remember that even though we have failed in our friendships, both earthly and
spiritual, even though we have sinfully strayed from faith; we are still loved, still
cherished, and always forgiven through Jesus. As we are told in John 3:16-17, â
€œFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.�
When we no longer allow ourselves to wallow in a mire of inaction and self-
recrimination and instead open our hearts to belief in Jesus, all of heaven welcomes
us home with loving arms held open. Yesterday is finished and today it is time to set
the past aside and experience the joy of reconnecting.
©2009
Elizabeth Williams
This devotion is dedicated to my dear friend, Cindy Peterson, who is always there for me through thick and thin. A busy wife,
mother, and grandmother, she has (occasionally) been known to absent-mindedly leave the house with mismatched shoes, but her
heart never wanders from her love and belief in her Savior or from her unflagging affection for her friends.