Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

 A lukewarm welcome feels terrible, doesn’t it?  Even worse, when there’s no welcome at all, the memory of it sits interminably in our soul.

Never will I experience this when I approach God.  Because Eloah Selichot forgives extravagantly, His welcome of me is always passionately warm.  There is a history of longing where He is concerned.  He knew me before I was ever conceived, knew I’d be born with the sin of Adam, and knew I’d be lost without the intervention of a Savior.  His longing for reconciliation made a way for my sin to be forgiven. Now, warm welcomes are a certainty.

Because of forgiveness, His Father welcomes me even though I was an enemy.  Because of forgiveness, He welcomes me even though my list of offenses against Him was long.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, threatens His open embrace.

When I walk the halls of church, I can be tempted to welcome some more than others.  I remember and can rehearse petty offenses.  God is not like that.  His embrace is never tentative.  My sin, past, present, and future has been removed from me.  Approaching Him with boldness carries zero risk. I can always run home.  The door is never locked.  Like the father of the prodigal son, He’s on the porch, eagerly waiting for my arrival.

If I’m shy of You, it’s about me.  Not you.  I hold up my shield of faith and believe in Your character.  Amen