“…the one who comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37
In my Sunday school class, we have been deeply considering the heart of God. It is so important for us to have a clear picture of who God is for true spiritual health and growth.
In His book Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund writes, “The only thing required to enjoy the deep love of God is to come to Him. To ask Him to take us in. He does not say, ‘whoever comes to me with sufficient contrition,’ or “whoever comes to me feeling bad enough for their sin,’ or ‘whoever comes to me with redoubled efforts.’ He says, ‘whoever comes to me I will never cast out.’”
We come up with all sorts of reasons for why we cannot come to God. It might be past sin, or present sin, or sin we planned to commit. It might be that we feel unworthy, that we haven’t served enough, given enough, proved enough, accomplished enough. It might be that we don’t know enough. Our sin can make us feel as though God’s natural posture towards us is a pointed finger rather than open arms.
Jesus works to renew our view of who God is. He reveals God as approachable, merciful, full of compassion, forgiving, unconditionally loving, understanding, patient. He wants you to know that you will never be rejected by Him if you come to Him. He knows we are sinful. And He knows He is our Savior. Your Savior will not chastise you for needing saving. He longs for you to come to Him. And so, I encourage you to enter that posture today of drawing near to Jesus in your heart. Know that He takes great joy in you coming to Him, and that He will never, ever, turn you away.