🙌It's the Friday Call to Worship!🙌

I have found myself in the beginning of my Bible at the beginning of a new year. The fall of man is the first account after creation, just three chapters in. Every page after is filled with God's pursuit of unbroken relationship with us, no matter the cost.

Genesis 3 starts with the enemy twisting questions aimed to steal, kill and destroy. "Did God really say...?" In an instant, chaos, confusion, separation, shame, guilt, fear stained a spotless masterpiece. Only 7 verses later, however, God Himself comes to ask questions aimed to seek, find, heal and hold. "Where are you? Who told you that you were naked?"

I've read the story a hundred times. But this time, on the crest of a new year, I am struck by God's pursuing kindness. There was no shaming or blaming in God's questions. Those things cannot exist in Him.

God came to walk in the garden. He came to walk on this earth as a man Himself. All to be closer to you and I. He will stop at nothing to remove our shame. In fact, he was so excited to announce His victorious love story, He gave the first gospel message right there in verses 14 and 15 of the same chapter. Redemption and grace has always been in the cards for us.

Like a good, good Father, he leans into You and I this January 2024 and says, "Where are you?" He's never been out to get you. He's not looking to punish you. He just wants you to know He's already saved you. When He asks, "Where are you?", it's so we hear the sound of His voice and the kindness that leads to repentance.

Let's worship the One who made us and continually leans in close to make sure we don't forget the sound of His voice, no matter where we find ourselves.

“Every Victory” by The Belonging Co, feat Danny Gokey