Devising Ways To Re-instate

This one got me. In the story of a father and son estrangement of II
Samuel 14 the anguish is deep. The dad has been separated from his
son and so wants him back but doesn't take the finishing steps for re-
instatement. Funny how we think our discipline of another should be
deep and long, tending to devise ways to be sure they got. In
paradox, God is devising ways for estranged people to be joined to
him. DEVISING WAYS!!! That is God's heart, to find a way to connect
with people. In spite of all of the sins, the wayward, selfish
heart, the disappointments, the whatever else God's heart never
changes, to find someway somehow to reconnect with me. That is an
amazing God! Someway, somehow he wants us to be us again, to do life
with me, to live in me and I in him.

No wonder Jesus said how we get along as followers is a big deal. If
we are divided then we are not living the heart of God, devising ways
to re-instate our wholeness. If we are divided we are not living the
Kingdom dream of being one, not halves. If we are divided then the
culture does not see in living metaphor how hard the heart of God
works to re-instate.

I can feel this one. It gets to me deeply. I want to be that living
metaphor but sometimes my stuff, my anger, my whatever gets in the
way. And I refuse to devise ways. Better figure that one out.