God Relented

“God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it” (Jonah 3:10).

God knows the ending from the beginning

God knows who would obey Him and who would rebel

God knows who would repent and who would harden their heart

God continues to call out to us

He wants us to turn to Him

Even when He knew how we would respond

Our Loving Father continues to call us

To go back to Him

To return to His embrace

To accept and receive His grace and mercy

Our Loving Father has His arms outstretched toward us

Awaiting our return

Ready to enfold us in His

Safe

Fierce

Gentle

Intimate

Soothing 

Forgiving

Comforting

Passionate

Grace-filled

Merciful

Embrace

Throughout history Israel has rebelled

Throughout history God has called out to the Israelites

To repentance

God sent prophets

Some they stoned

Some they killed

God sent His beloved and only Son

We still rebelled

Rejected

Nailed

Jesus on the cross

Yet God’s love is unrelenting

His faithfulness unfailing

His forgiveness unwavering

His commitment undaunting

His mercies new every morning

His invitation for us to return incessant

The Father disciplines whom He loves

The goal of discipline is for us to return

Into an intimate relationship

Into an obedient relationship

Back into a loving relationship

Back into a protected relationship

Back into a flourishing relationship

While there is hardship 

Outside of an intimate

Submitted

Loving

Relationship with God

 

God calls us back

So that He might 

Relent

From continuing to 

Allow 

Us to

Experience the consequences of our rebellion

Being outside of His umbrella of protection

Repent

Return

Relent

From our ways now

So we might experience 

God’s relent

And receive His abundance of

Blessing

Joy

Intimacy

In His arms

In His embrace

"One Thing Remains" - Song to worship with: by Jesus Culture