Devotional Thought of the Day:
¹⁹  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. ²⁰  “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:19-20 (NLT)

Saint Luke tells us of some fishermen washing and mending their nets by the shores of Lake Genesareth. Jesus comes up to the boats tied up alongside and goes into one of them, which is Simon’s. How naturally the Master comes aboard our own boat! “Just to complicate our lives,” you hear some people complain. You and I know better; we know that our Lord has crossed our paths to complicate our existence with gentleness and love.  (1)

I once was told “God wouldn’t be involved with the likes of me.”

Actually, I’ve been told it more than a few times.  From people who were incarcerated, from people on the streets, from people with multiple graduate degrees but with a past that wasn’t just broken, it was shattered.

While I understand, heck I know the feeling, whenever I hear that, I cannot help weeping.

Not because of their past.  But because they believed something that is a lie.  Because in trusting in that lie, they miss out on what we call grace.  More simply put, the blessing of knowing that God loves you, that His love means that He will show mercy to you, and knowing the miracle of that mercy, you will know peace.

To those that believe God won’t be involved with you, the lesson of Peter’s boat is a good one.  Imagine Jesus getting into your car. Just walking up, opening the door, getting in and saying, “let go for a ride”.   Or the passage from Revelation, he knocks at your door, comes in and asks, “where is dinner””  That is what Jesus does throughout all of history.

He get’s involved with people.  Involved with them to where there is no protective comfort zone.  Deeply involved, for that is where we need Him, even if we don’t like Him that intimately involved in our lives.  He comes in, and would make Himself at home with us. Celebrate the good stuff, comfort us as we grieve. He would bring healing to the brokeness of our lives, even to those who are shattered.  He would make everything brand new.  Not like brand new, He will make us completely brand new.

That’s what Jesus does when He determines to get involved with us.  Which is why it doesn’t matter how broken we are, or from what kind of life we have survived.  He is here to get involved, and that may be a little uncomfortable at first… but the depth of His Spirit’s involvement is guaranteed to be glorious.

He’s going to get involved because He wants a relationship with you.  Once that relationship begins, expect Him to make Himself at Home in your life, and rejoice as you walk together, for you are loved.

AMEN

Escriva, Josemaria (2010-11-02). Friends of God (Kindle Locations 532-535). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.