Bidden or unbidden God is present

I have been thinking a lot recently about the nature of God. I think he is far less harsh than people give him credit for. And far more creative. And far more elusive. I will try not to machine gun you with quotes but I want to explain that I have some basis for making these statements.

The bible is a kind of love story collection of writings about God. It ranges from stories about God in a huff, and believe me lovers do get in a huff sometimes, to accounts of God the tender hearted loving creator of each one of us,  with all sorts of tones in between. It's easy to get hung up on one aspect. But to see God properly needs an understanding that he or she is very elusive. "We can't put God in a box" as the saying goes.

God is just there! Existing! Regardless of any action we might take but at the same time he wants to call us into a love relationship.

Some Australian friends used to have a bronze plaque in their Hall. It fascinated me and it had the words on it "Bidden or unbidden, God is present" which apparently is a translation of a Latin saying. It is a beautiful reminder that God is like a very persistent lover, who persists in making overtures to the beloved regardless of how they are received. Persistent, foolish perhaps if we turn our backs on him. But God is so caring for us that he continues long after a human lover would have given up. He provides our earthly life. Oh that we could but realise. "in him we live and move and have our being" as the apostle Paul puts it.

Have a pause and a think over the words in this passage for example:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 NIV

That was written by John, one of Jesus closest companions.

I got in a taxi the other day and got into conversation quite easily with the driver. We ended up discussing that very passage. I asked the driver to imagine how he felt on seeing his own children when they were born. God's delight in us his children is greater and more continuing.

Today I invite you to remember God your creator. Let him speak gently into your life. Ask him to bless you and change your heart.

And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3 NIV