Last week on one of the first sunny days, I went for a lovely walk with the dog on the fields near our house. The sun was out, the birds were singing and there were some rabbits on the hill. Therein lay the problem, I let the dog off the lead and 45 mins later I was still trying to call her back.The lure of Spring was too much to resist and I was left  worrying that she would stray onto the road or meet all sorts of dangers.  So this week I have been starting at the beginning again with the command "Come" to try and train my daft mutt to be like all these other obedient dogs who return the instant their owner calls them.

 

Jesus also asks us to come. He doesn't command or force us , but he asks us to come, and how quickly do we respond? The fishermen drop everything and follow him, but for many of us ,well we run off in every direction chasing all sorts of things. Even though he can see the danger we put ourselves in and the unhappiness we cause ourselves he still leaves it up to us, because unlike our pets, he wants us to follow of our own free will , not because we have been indoctrinated.

 

Some of us will stray and return, and how much rejoicing there is in heaven when we do, some of us however will never return, and over  those people, I am sure, Jesus weeps.

"In the same way I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents." Luke 15 vs 10