Colossians 1:19–20 (NLT): “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
In John 3:16, we are told that God so loved the world that He gave His Son. In Hebrews, we are told that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him—the joy of bringing us back to God. And here in Colossians, Paul tells us God was pleased. Pleased to come. Pleased to reconcile. Pleased to pour out His blood to make peace.
Do you ever feel like God is tired of you? Like He saves you because He has to, not because He wants to? Like His love is there, but barely?
Then listen to Jesus.
In Luke 15, He tells three stories. A shepherd loses one sheep, searches far and wide, and when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders rejoicing. A woman loses a coin, turns her house upside down to find it, and when she does, she calls her friends to celebrate. A father watches the road for his lost son, and when he sees him in the distance, he runs. He throws his arms around him and throws a feast, saying, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
In all three stories, something precious is lost. And in all three, there is great joy when it is found.
That is how God feels about you.
If you are tired, ashamed, or full of doubt today, hear this. God is not burdened by your return. He is not irritated by your need. He is glad to help you. Glad to forgive you. Glad to have you home.
He is pleased to save you.
“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20